Posts

Other People’s Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series) by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Other People's Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 7)Other People’s Money by Cynthia Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Madeline Dawkins the PI is back and she has some new cases to investigate, hot on the tail of her last case, two more fall into her lap and they both happen to be old friends of Madeline’s, as she brings her team up to date on the details of the first case, she outlines that it is money related, a trusted bookkeeper has disappeared after calling in sick at work, nobody has heard from her since, however, it has been found that a serious amount of money has also disappeared along with her. In the second case, a friends widowed father is embarking on nuptials with a much younger woman who he met while working on a project and a whirlwind romance has taken everyone by surprise and his son is worried that he may be being blinded by rose tinted glasses.

Madeline is both intrigued and worried by both these cases, especially when she and her team start to dog deeper into the fact surrounding them both, but as they do this digging, more questions than answers appear, especially when some facts are coincidentally very similar to other cases they have been involved in. As for the background check on the fiancée it turns out that she is not all she says she is and nothing is as it appears on the surface, but as their options run out on her true intentions and identity, it appears time may be running out.

In the investigation, it all seems to boil down to money and the trails it leaves behind, but can the team find the missing bookkeeper and retrieve the money which has been stolen, or will they end up with a less than satisfactory ending? Can Madeline find any information about this mystery woman with apparently no background at all before a widower is taken advantage of and his life thrown into disarray again? This is yet another fast paced thriller where a team of private investigators hunt down the answers to multiple mysteries, all while trying to stay out of danger and the implications of chasing financial trails, as you follow along these trails to their final turn.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

How to Make a Flying Carpet: A magnetism book (Alex, the Inventor) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

How to Make a Flying Carpet (Alex, the Inventor #2)How to Make a Flying Carpet by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can you do when one of your fridge magnets breaks? This is the question that Alex, the Inventor, a young girl with a bright mind comes across when one of her fridge magnets breaks and she has to find something to do with it.

So what can magnets do, apart from sticking to fridges? This is the first of many experiments Alex will investigate and when she discovers that they can push apart as well as stick together, this leads onto ideas of how she can use these facts, including whether she can use magnets to make a magic carpet.

This is a great way for kids to learn about the basics of the science behind magnets in a way which is both entertaining and interesting for the young and old alike in this charming and well thought out educational book.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Noah’s Not So Super Summer by Brittany Tucker – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Noah's Not So Super SummerNoah’s Not So Super Summer by Brittany Tucker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Noah Reagan has ambitions and one of them is to attend the Summer With Supers Youth Camp, he wants to work in the scientific field and make a difference, not like his dad who just cleans up after them, but alas that was not to be because of some mutants attacking the town of Lincoln where he lives. All he wanted was to be bully free and able to enjoy himself while learning, but when the programme is cancelled, he has to actually work over his summer holidays instead, but at least it’s only during the week, he will at least have the weekends free to have fun with his best friend.

So as soon as his dad finds out what happened at the latest mutant attack and that he was there, he is furious and so his internship with Mega-Maintenance company begins, it isn’t glamorous and it isn’t easy, but Noah learns just how much work his dad has to do after the smoke clears and the rubble settles. While he is working, he thinks about the mutants and what he has seen when they attack and he thinks that he might have a theory as to what is behind it, but he needs some super help with his investigation.

Meanwhile, there are more mutant attacks all over Lincoln, but will Noah be able to figure out who the mastermind behind the mutants and the mega-issues they are causing, or will he be able to stop them before the Supers get more than they can handle? This is a fun read with plenty of mutants, superpowers and mayhem galore as Noah tries to save his not so super summer!

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Operation Escape (Space Force Rejects) by Landra Graf – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Operation Escape (Space Force Rejects Book 2)Operation Escape by Landra Graf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sera Kain is a young woman who works for the Space Force in an administrative position and she retains knowledge and facts like others do faces and names, but when she finds out that her uncle is missing, she is determined to use all of the knowledge available at her fingertips to find him. Markus Engle is trying to leave his life in the Space Force behind him and was doing very well doing just that on Kafgar, the planet where pleasure is the first port of call, however, when Sera walks into his office and disturbs his afternoon, something which he hoped would never happen does.

Sera has no idea what she has just walked into, apart from that she is interrupting something, so as soon as she knows that she has found the pilot she needs, she leaves until a more convenient time to propose a mission to which he is the key, but Markus has a problem, thanks to some past genetic engineering, he finds that he can’t refuse Sera anything, but he intends to keep the reason why to himself. As Sera outlines her plans and makes sure that it is clear to Markus that he is going to be flying them to the prison planet of Earth, once the heart of the human empire so that she can rescue two inmates who will lead her to her uncle.

As they approach the planet, things start to go awry, but it isn’t until they land, are ambushed and their ship stolen that Sera realises that she may have bitten off more than she can chew and her lack of experience is showing, but she is still determined to find a way off the planet and to her uncle. Along with finding a way off of the planet, Markus and Sera will have to find a way to avoid the rest of the inmates living there, so she attempts to create alliances with some of the humanoid creatures there, but she is also trying to fight the attraction she feels towards Markus, it turns out that he is doing the same. Will these two fated mates be able to embrace their attraction to each other, leave Earth and find Sera’s uncle, or will the inmates, or wildlife get to them first? In this fast paced sci-fi romance, danger lies around every turn and not just the physical kind as this unlikely pair face adversity in order to discover their strengths in this enticing story.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Esprit de Corpse by Ef Deal – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Esprit de CorpseEsprit de Corpse by Ef Deal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jacqueline Duval and Angélique De La Forge are twin sisters who are very much opposites, one loves the arts and the other engineering, but they have a bond stronger than any and would do anything for the other, no matter what the predicament is, or whomever may be involved. One day they are travelling back from Paris to Orléans, after an adventure and some of the usual repercussions when their train comes to a sudden stop in a meadow and the reason for this is baffling to those all around them. It seems that an automaton has crashed into the front of the train and nobody is able to shut it off, that is until Jaqueline gets in on the action and albeit in an unconventional way, does just that. When she requests that the machine is loaded onto the train, the others are impatient to leave, however, she insists on it and then remains with the machine for the rest of the journey, while her sister stays in a carriage.

Nothing further hinders their journey and the sisters arrive home to a warm welcome, a hot bath and a meal, only after she is forced to endure these things does Jacqueline go to her workshop, where the automaton is stored and begin working out how it is powered and to whom it belongs, however, before she can get very far, she is stumped by the fact that it isn’t powered by any natural means. The next day, Jacqueline decides to head back to Paris for some help with the mystery, but while she is there, her sister becomes embroiled in yet another caper, but this time it is through little fault of her own, but when Jacqueline receives word of this, she is determined to find her and work together to stop the mysterious person behind the machine.

This is not an easy feat and while the sisters are separated, they discover allies in unconventional manners and soon realise that there is a much larger plan afoot and that there is a link to the Paris underground, literally and secrets are revealed to show that the sisters past is deeply entwined within it, but how do the supernatural and mechanical mix and why is someone creating these automatons? Will the two sisters be able to reunite and uncover the mystery tying them all together before time runs out and disaster strikes? With enemies around very corner, magic, mayhem and engineering combine to create an intriguing and original mystery which will keep you engaged from start to finish.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Little Red, the Detective: a science folktale (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

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

Little Red is a young girls who loves to visit her Grandma, she enjoys learning about wildflowers, her teachings on how to be a detective and receiving the jumpers her grandma knits, so when her Grandma calls inviting her round to be measured up for a new one, Little Red can’t wait, especially when her Grandma asks her to pick some cone glowers for blending a tea on the way.

As she travels to her Grandma’s she encounters a wolf who gives her some advice on which flowers she will need which stops her in her tracks so that she can check the flowers in her identification book, so when she gets to her Grandma’s house, she knows something is wrong, but how can she scientifically prove her assumption with her detective skills?

This is a charming retelling of a popular tale with a modern twist which is a wonderful book for all ages to enjoy.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Pulling Together by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Pulling TogetherPulling Together by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lila is a young lady who loves her Grandma dearly, but when she sees her knitting a blanket with three head holes, she is more than confused, that is until she is told that it is a poncho and that it is one head hole and two arm holes, so wearing the poncho, she goes to find her friend so that they can play together.

On her way, she encounters two other youngsters, as well as her friend and each of them need some assistance, including the neighbourhood bully who insists on being mean to Lila and the others, but how can she help them and what did her Grandma mean by “we all pull together”?

This is a lovely story about how when we pull together anything can happen, but is it a good or a bad thing? Only by reading the book can you find out.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Crown of Stones: Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Magic-Borne (The Crown of Stones #3)Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ian Troy returns and he has more magic scars than ever, but when his spells show him something he was not prepared for, he has to think about his past, present and future and base his decisions on the uncertainty surrounding him. He is still a fugitive, thanks to his past castings, but he is now wanted in multiple lands, as well as by his father, but he still tries to make the world around him a better place, even though as usual, it doesn’t always go to plan for him, or those close to him.

While he is casting spells to find out what his father has planned, he journeys to different times and places, but not all the answers he seeks are available to him and while on one of these journeys, he experiences a bleak future where everything he has worked towards has been thwarted. The resistance he has been routed, the tenuous relationships within it destroyed and nearly everyone he knows is alive and all hope that was there is now gone, so when Ian returns to the present, he is determined to stop this future in its path, so he uses the knowledge he gained while there to do this.

Meanwhile, tensions build between Rella, Langor and Ian’s father as peace treaties are stretched to breaking point and political posturing is showing people’s true colours and is leading the armies closer to the return to the brink of war between the lands. Ian is also realising his increasingly apparent transformation into the more beastlike form of an eldring, he tries to stave off from casting in an attempt to buy himself some time, but as he searches the past for a way to defeat his father, bring peace to the lands around him and break the transformation the Crown of Stones is causing, he has to battle his inner demons too.

How far can Ian go before he breaks, or worse, becomes an eldring and how big a sacrifice will he be willing to make in order to reach his goals and will he be able to pay the price demanded? This is another epic race against time in a fantasy land where apartheid rules, magic is both life, death and currency and those who wield it are both saviours and destroyers, but whom is which is what you will only be able to find out by reading this addictive story until its conclusion.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Messenger: An MM Romeo and Juliet Retelling (Star-Crossed Celestials) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Messenger (Star-Crossed Celestials Duet #2)Messenger by A.L. Morrow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cyrus and Jace are two men in love, but who cannot be together, Jace has been exiled and forced to leave Las Vegas, or Sin City as it is more commonly known and Cyrus is feeling well and truly lost without him, but he has to keep up appearances within the celestial community and that includes keeping Jace a closely guarded secret, as well as his transgressions with him. There are only a few people who actually know what happened between them and why Cyrus does not seem his usual self, not to mention his work is keeping him occupied, at least until the night falls and he searches for a way back to his one true love.

The person in question just happens to be a demon, a demon with connections, but as Cyrus ventures off the beaten path to find him, he tries to keep to the shadows and hope that his nightly activities are noticed by the powers that be, however, fate as usual is not on Cyrus’s side. One night, after he tries to continue his nocturnal searches, he comes home exhausted and to a dangerous sign, but things are about to get much worse for Cyrus when he is attacked by enemies whom he should be protected from and as they leave him for dead, an unlikely caretaker shows up, his angelic ex, who also happens to be someone who broke his heart in the past and has a hard time trusting.

While all this is happening, Jace is just trying to survive without Cyrus, so when he hears that the messenger is dead, he loses all hope and does the one thing he has been banned from doing, returning to Las Vegas, but when he gets there, he discovers that all is not lost and that Cyrus is not dead. Together, they uncover a sinister plot which could change everything they believe and everything they are working towards, but will they be able to foil it and save Sin City while both staying alive? This is another paranormal romance with a thrilling mystery throughout where it is a race against time to uncover the players and the game, where secrets, lies and revelations all appear out of nowhere and leave the same way in this enticing tale of star crossed lovers, angels and demons.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Notebook Mysteries ~ Suspicions by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Notebook Mysteries ~ Suspicions (Notebook Mysteries book #5)Notebook Mysteries ~ Suspicions by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is January 1889 and Jeremy and Emma have just been working on a case which has hit them hard, but as they are trying to recover, they are hit with another which is equally harrowing, so they have to use their combined skills and hope that it is enough to keep them together through the hardship of the investigation, but they have the Pinkerton detectives helping out. As they delve deeper into the investigation and uncover the horrors within it, the dynamic duo are split apart being needed in two different teams and while Jeremy is working one case, Emma finds herself called upon by a trio of families whom she has helped in the past.

In a rapid change of travel plans, Emma reaches out to reassure her family what is happening so that they can keep in contact and not worry like they always do when she is out on her own and so, Emma heads out to familiar ground where she aids three families with a problematic history with one man at its centre. With time constraints and the need to maintain secrecy, Emma works together with the families to solve their predicament and stay safe all at the same time.

When these cases are finally concluding, the family are all reunited under one roof and more than happy to be there where they can catch up on the latest news on the cases in relative safety and comfort and with what has been happening, Jeremy and Emma need this all the more. However, the familial bliss is unexpectedly breached as someone tries their darndest to become its latest member, but will they be able to come between this tight knit group and why do these cases all seem to point to something, or someone from Emma’s past? This is another fast paced mystery where nothing is as it seems and danger lies around every corner, as suspicions rain and the phrase crawling out of the woodwork is bandied around like candy as bonds are tested and relationships stretched to breaking point throughout this addictive read.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Euphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the Mind by Ryan M. Becker- Reviewed by Stephanie Dulac

/0 Comments/in /by

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

Euphoric wonderland is a Beautifully written poetry book. This is short Poetry read and it is very powerfully written. This is the first book I have read by this author and I am not disappointed. Euphoric Wonderland is so beautifully written, if you are into this Genre and enjoy reading Poetry I highly recommend this read it will not disappoint. Thank you for writing this wonderful book. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

@stephaniedulac25
View all my reviews

Insomnia: (A Short Stories Collection) by Kelly Covic – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

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

Kelly Covic is about to send you on a journey where nothing is as it seems and the veil between this world and the next thins just enough to give a glimpse of what is on the other side, as well as letting them glimpse you in return, but what you will see is nothing you will have thought possible.

There is everything from mysterious noises, the bending of reality, haunting events and surprising circumstances in each of these nine short stories, including Idle Thursday, but in order to learn what these stories have to tell and show you, you will need to read all of them with a hot drink, snack and a blanket, as you go and read this collection of stories which will haunt you long after you have read them and stay rent free in your mind as you read through them all and try to figure out what happens next.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

With Fire and Sword: A Time Travel Romance by Andrea Matthews – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

With Fire and Sword (Thunder on the Moor, #4)With Fire and Sword by Andrea Matthews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In this instalment of this series, Will, Maggie and Dylan return, but they are no longer together, Will and Maggie are in the present and Dylan is in the sixteenth century, but as always on the border, danger is never far away and there is always the risk of attacks and so when things turn bloody, Dylan realises that something is not right and that time is not running as it should. In the present, Will and Maggie are settling into their new lives and Will is realising just how different the two centuries are, so when they decide that they want to connect with those around where they will be living more, they start to open up about their adventures, but there are still surprises in store for the two.

As Will and Maggie spend more and more time together and try to unravel what has been happening since their return, they find a new note in a diary and it puts a swathe of ice cold water down both of their spines, something has happened in the past and Dylan has sent a message through time that they will need to come back to help set things right, but they have no idea how they are going to do it. Meanwhile, Dylan is wracking his brains to figure out how to sort out the mess which has been created around him and as reluctant as he is to bring Will and Maggie back, he knows that it will most likely be the only option, but he has no way of doing it.

This is where a significant part of their joint past comes to try and help in the form of Ritchie Carnaby, a friend of the family who has inadvertently himself managed to find a way to the future for himself and his family, but there are gaps in his memory of events which should be significant, but is it because of the time travel, or is it something to do with the note that Dylan left them and will they be able to find a way to restore the timeline before the future is irrevocably changed? This is another fast paced adventure, where time is of the essence in more ways that one and finding a way to travel back through the centuries seems impossible, will they be able to overcome their adverse challenges and set everything right while staying out of the constant danger which surrounds them, the only way is to follow on with this addictive and engrossing part of this series.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Rogue (The Talisman Series) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Rogue (The Talisman Series)Rogue by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Baz Cormac is a rogue warrior, but this is not by choice, it is because he turned 28 before he found his talisman and had to pledge his loyalty to the Goddess, the Morrigan, so for the last three years, he has had freedom from a warriors restrictions, but also the necessity of taking the lives of warriors within that community, who happened to cross swords with him on the battlefield which the Morrigan orchestrates, he has also been gathering, training and leading a group of other rogues at the same time, whom he is planning to disrupt the Goddesses plans.

Delaney Ferrell is a young woman who has given up on finding her warrior and instead thrown herself into warrior training and her business instead, she is strong, fast and relentless with her training and everything else she puts her mind to, so when she receives a mysterious note which concurs with some rumours of rogues in the area she lives in, she decides to go and check it out as she already knows the area and will be able to tell if something is off there.

When Baz senses that there is a warrior nearby, he prepares himself for a confrontation, however, when he discovers that it is a female whom he has sensed, he is understandable reticent, but Delaney has no such weaknesses when it comes to a scrap with a rogue, this is what she has trained for and she knows that she has to put him down, so the fight for dominance between the two begins, but Baz is soon to discover that this woman is more than just easy on the eyes, she is a fiercely determined fighter.

As he makes the split second decision to kidnap instead of kill Delaney, he takes her to his lair and makes sure she cannot leave until he can figure out why he is so damn attracted to her, so in a desperate and instinctive act, he tries his sign on her and much to his astonishment it works and this is where he realises that Delaney is his fated mate and this throws his plans into complete disarray. When Delaney feels the reaction of her body to Baz and he explains why, she cannot accept the fact that she is the talisman of a rogue, especially since her Uncle decided to be one and brought shame upon her family, but will she be able to accept her fate and give love a chance, or will the Goddesses tear them apart before anything can truly begin? This is a fantasy adventure which is a balancing act, on a tightrope between good and evil, where one life altering decision has to be made before time and a Goddesses patience run out in this fated mates romance where secrets, lies, truths and revelations are all that stands between the darkness and the light and the answer to the question of which is the stronger side?

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Lone Star Child (The Gods’ Scion) by Winnifred Tataw- Review by Stephanie Dulac

/0 Comments/in /by

The Lone Star ChildThe Lone Star Child by Winnifred Tataw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Lone star Child is the third book in the God’s Scion series. Unfortunately, I have not had the chance to read the other two books in the series but was still able to read this book. This Author wrote a wonderful young adult fantasy world to lose yourself in. This Fast-moving story takes you through a Mythological world with lots of Drama And intriguing characters. I Found this read entertaining and Wonderful. If you are into young adult Fantasy reads with family, drama, war, then this is the read for you I highly recommend you giving this read a try. Thank you to this wonderful author for writing this great read.

@stephaniedulac25
View all my reviews

Other People’s Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series) by Cynthia Hamilton- Reviewed by Stephanie Dulac

/0 Comments/in /by

Other People's Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 7)Other People’s Money by Cynthia Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 7, 2023
Other people’s money is book 7 in the Madeline Dawkins series. Although i have not read any of the other books in this series I still really enjoyed this read. Othe people’s money is captivating right from the begging of the book. This read is not usually my cup of tea but this author sucks you in with Maddie and her people solving cases. Lots of twists and surprises in this book and just keeps you entangled in this book. I honestly look forward to read more books by this Author and I will have to go back and read the other books in this series although you can follow along without reading the other books, I highly suggest that you start from the beginning you won’t regret it :). Thank you to wonderful Author for writing this wonderful read.

@stephaniedulac25
View all my reviews

Fallen Soul (War of Destiny) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Fallen Soul (War of Destiny # 4)Fallen Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lane Marlow is a vampire, but unlike most others, he lives alone and prefers his own company, but it is much more than that, not long after he was turned, he was forced to abandon the country of his birth and while discovering what it meant to have this new life, he was eventually shunned for the way he decided to live it, by feeding off of other vampires. At this time, the way Lane lived had made its way to the King of the vampires, Valentino and he wasn’t very impressed in the slightest, so he ordered his Council to apprehend Lane and deliver him to his prison cells, it was here that he was condemned to death, but Lane had other ideas and he escaped.

Nobody knows quite what happened to Lane in Valentino’s care, or how exactly he escaped and Lane keeps his cards very close to his chest, so he allows the rumours to follow him because it made his life easier in one way, but harder in another. All of this has led Valentino to decree that any vampire who sees Lane must kill him on site, but Lane isn’t easy to kill, so to keep his sanity in tact, he decides to return to his homeland, but makes a pit stop in Rome, this is where he runs into Valentino’s Council members again, but they aren’t the only ones.

As he is hunting, Lane comes across a group of vampires who are not what they seem and do not live like other vampires, they live with humans and they aren’t all scared of him, plus the most mystifying of all is that they don’t attack him onsite, in fact they help him! Lane is struggling to wrap his head around him, but colour him intrigued, he wants to know more, could this lead to an uneasy, but welcomed alliance, or are they just playing him and stringing along like others in his past and become just another obstacle to his return home? This is another fantasy adventure which is full of supernatural beings and danger which lurks in every shadow, where stories are exchanged and futures are uncertain, when the pasts bleeds into them.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

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

Princess Zarina is the youngest daughter of the King and Queen and is doted on, she is beautiful and looks every inch the princess she is, so when it is time for her Royal Advancement and the time she gets to have a celebration dedicated to her new status and chair on the royal dais. However, Princess Zarina is determined to have a dress to remember and is worried that the court dressmaker will not be able to do it in time, so when she hears of another dressmaker who lives in the woods, she is determined to have her dream dress, so she goes to see the dressmaker and makes a deal.

The Princess has a definite idea of the dress she wants in her mind, but struggles to explain it, so when she goes back three days before the gala to celebrate her ascension, she returns to the mystery dressmaker and finds that although the dress is beautiful, it is not what she wanted, it is black! She agrees to try the dress on, however, when she does, she regrets it, especially when she is told that she cannot take it off and is told that it contains magical properties, this is where the deal goes wrong and Princess Zarina is left stranded and having to make her own way back to the castle.

Meanwhile, tragedy has fallen while she has been travelling back home and she finds that raiders have taken over the kingdom and killed her parents, the King and Queen and when she discovers this, she knows that she has to go into hiding. Will Princess Zarina be able to use her magical dress to stay out of danger long enough to defeat the raiders and save her Kingdom, or will defeat dog her tracks? This is a fantasy adventure with for everyone from children to adults who love a bit of sweetness and whimsy, with a sprinkle of adventure and danger throughout.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Destiny of Light (A Quirk Of Destiny Book 3) by Catherine Greenall – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Destiny of Light: Final Book in Quirk of Destiny TrilogyDestiny of Light: Final Book in Quirk of Destiny Trilogy by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Calum O’Connell is back again, they are getting back to something like normal in Gallanvaig, they are back to their sustainable and simple way of life and thankful that they are still all together after having just overcome the last lot of hurdles which changed life as they knew it all over again, when the “Genies” came and caused havoc for their friends and families. This was as well as trying to keep out of harms way thanks to a dissonance in their lifestyles and those of others living in this apocalyptic world, where barriers were erected and had to be overcome by the small group.

While they were fighting for their lives, the “Genies” were growing in both strength and numbers, their powers increasing and becoming more and more deadly with each passing day as they continue to eat the genetically modified foods and recruit others to do the same and join their evil ranks. Another group were also fighting against them from the shadows, wanting to eliminate anyone standing in the way of their new world order, be they survivors or “Genies” and causing a restrictive way of life to be adopted by forcing everyone to obey.

Between the “Genies” and the shadowy Elite, Calum and his group are struggling to survive and avoid the pitfalls and hurdles placed into their path by those around them, but they still have hope that they can prevail with the help of others around the world, but with death and destruction all around them, can they really stop the forces of evil and convince everyone else to re-adopt their way of life, or will evil triumph after all and create a new world order thriving on violence and mistreatment? This is another informative and well researched glimpse into a possible future with apocalyptic consequences to current issues, written in a way which provokes conversations and debates while coupling it with a dystopian race against time, which is fraught with danger from everywhere all at once which you will not want to miss out on.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Return to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of Destiny by Catherine Greenall – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Return to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of DestinyReturn to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of Destiny by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Calum O’Connell returns in this dystopian tale of how genetically modified (GM) food has caused an apocalyptic level event, which has wiped out most of the humans living on the planet, but not just that, some of the survivors have become altered at a genetic level. The not so affectionately named “Genies” have become something superhuman and have shown abilities beyond human, this is as well as becoming emotionally and physically unstable, they have been attacking, enslaving, or even killing people in their madness.

Since we last saw Calum, two years have passed since the first wave of this apocalypse occurred and life has somewhat settled down in the small coastal town of Gallanvaig, the group have been helping the world recover and creating guidelines to live by which are both sustainable and more natural, but nothing good can last and things are about to take a turn for the worse again and danger will come for this small community.

Meanwhile, the evil “Genie” leader, Balthazar has been growing in strength and developing his paranormal powers while planning his next wave of attacks against the GM free survivors who foiled his last one, but even though it is personal, there is a crucial element of survival which the “Genies” cannot seem to succeed at and this is his main goal, to find a way around it. There is also a shadow group who have been sowing the seeds of their own plans throughout the surviving colonies around the world, but they are more politically motivated, however, just as ruthless as Balthazar in their methods.

Will Calum and his band of survivors be able to stop Balthazar in his tracks again, while also entering a political battle on their other front? Will this battle between good and evil ever stop and a new normal created, or will the world return to how it was before the GM tragedy occurred? This is a dystopian sci-fi adventure which hits close to home, while also teaching lessons in an informative and creative way with plenty of twists, turns and action throughout to keep you hooked and wanting to know what happens in the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Traveler Book 3 by Deborah Dugan – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The Traveler: Book 3The Traveler: Book 3 by Deborah Dugan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Harry is back after another period of stasis where he regenerates his life force and adapts to become a new configuration, but a lot has changed and so when he finds his way back to Tristan, there are a lot of new things he has to learn, but he is willing and able to do it. He first finds his friend’s house and makes his way to a flower bed so that he can work out when and where he is, feeling relieved is an understatement when he realises that Tristan is still there, but his new configuration confuses Tristan at first, but as soon as he realises that it is Harry, he is very happy to have him back.

As Harry learns about what has come to pass during his stasis, he finds that there are new amazing things to experience, as well as new frustrations and dangers, much like his past lives, there are always new emotions to experience and new dangers to watch out for, but again, life is not a straight line and obstacles are thrown in his way. As night falls and another day moves into the quiet time when Harry is awake, but all other people and things are asleep, he experiences something completely new and scary and so he has to quickly learn how to adapt and what he can do to keep himself safe and get back to Tristan.

As this new situation develops, Harry has to investigate an occurrence which involves the energy which flows throughout the universe and he realises that he may be in a position to help someone, but that it may also be the beginning of a breakthrough of his understanding of his own existence and powers, but will he be able to stay objective which he investigates and decides whether the pros of helping this individual outweigh the cons, or will he put himself in more danger than ever before? This is another in depth look into existence and reality in its many forms and asks the hard philosophical questions in such a way that you learn about life and learn to love the characters all at the same time and this is something which is both enriching and exciting, albeit at times mind boggling in the best possible way.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Ocean’s Three (Made In Heaven #2) by Elena Kincaid – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Ocean's Three (Made In Heaven, #2)Ocean’s Three by Elena Kincaid

Cameron Pompeo has always felt things more strongly than others, he trusts his intuition and on occasion has had inklings which are more than powerful, but he cannot control, or deal with them sometimes, the only thing which he can, is the appearance of a young girl, Jocelyn Parker who appears in his dreams and they get along better than he does with most other people. One night, his cousin Reed Pompeo turns up in his dreams as well and immediately, he can feel a connection between them, so pretty much every night, they spend time in their dreams building a deep friendship until Jocelyn is hurt in an accident which kills her mother and causes her to withdraw from them.

While Cameron and Reed try to manage without Jocelyn, she is buried under the weight of her guilt and the belief that she doesn’t deserve happiness and that the two boys from her dreams make her the happiest she can be, so she pushes them away and suffers more each day for it, but because they are only figments of her dreams, she will get over it, albeit deep down she knows that this isn’t right. In order for her to continue her self punishment, Jocelyn throws herself into existing day to day without them and continuing her life and Cameron and Reed try to do the same, but it is the hardest thing which they have ever had to do.

One day many years later, fate throws the three back together on a Mediterranean cruise where Jocelyn cannot run away and Cameron and Reed are determined to keep her close, so when they do reconnect, the passion and connection strengthens immediately, but what will happen when the cruise is over, will they be able to keep their connection strong, or will outside forces try to rip them apart? This is another steamy romance with an unconventional twist which will keep you hooked throughout as past, present and future collide to create a bond you hope will last.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Three Made In Heaven (Made In Heaven #1) by Elena Kincaid – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Three Made in Heaven (Made in Heaven, #1)Three Made in Heaven by Elena Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maddie Sutton, Cole Mercer and Charlie Gilbert were just children when they met for the first time, they felt an immediate connection and started to play together and spend as much time with each other as they could, they had inside jokes and shared everything about their lives with each other and as they grew up, their friendship blossomed as well, the only problem was that the only time they spent together was in their dreams.

They all grew up and over time, their friendship developed into something more, but for years, they never acted on it, thinking it was all one sided and that they would have to make Maddie choose between them, but one day all of that changed and they showed each other just how in love with each other they were, but when Maddie starts to become upset and disengage from the two young men, she tells them that she can’t continue this if they aren’t real and are just dreams, so even though she hates to do it, she leaves their shared dream in floods of tears. This leads Charlie to have his doubts as to their shared reality as well, but Cole knows for a fact that they are all three as real in the waking world, as they are in the dreaming one and sets out to finally bring them fully together.

When they finally meet in the flesh, they can no longer deny their true feelings and their bond grows deeper and they know that they will never let each other go, but Cole and Charlie discover that Maddie is in danger, they will do anything to keep her safe, no matter the cost, but will that cost be too high? This is a steamy romance with triple the action and steamy antics throughout where threats loom, but a core of hope threads throughout which pulls you along on the adventure with them.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Frozen By Lies (Sleigh Riders Book 1) by Martha Sweeney – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Frozen By Lies (Sleigh Riders Book 1)Frozen By Lies by Martha Sweeney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Noelle Frost is a young woman with tattoos and an attitude to match, she works in the family tavern and serves the bikers she calls family who live with her in their Frost Clan, but she hates how overprotective they are towards her, it cramps her style and leaves her frustrated on a daily basis. Nikolaus Klaus is a young man who also lives with bikers, but he is from the Klaus Clan, they have a similar set up to the Frost Clan, but they have a more laid back view on life, especially when it comes to travelling around and freedom.

One day, Noelle is working in the tavern when someone new comes in and asks for a hot chocolate, this just happens to be her speciality, especially when she spikes it with something a little stronger, but before she has a chance to serve them, they are told that they are not welcome and her family start to make an unusual fuss. The stranger leaves, but Noelle is annoyed with the behaviour of her family, so she follows them to make sure that they aren’t getting into their usual trouble, although they don’t know she is there, so when she sees the stranger again, she cannot help but to approach and talk to him, this is where she learns his name and that she is more than attracted to him.

These chance meetings continue to happen, so when they start to learn more about each other, they realise that they are from rival clans, but they don’t know why that rivalry is there, but amid flirting and more spiked hot chocolate, they realise that they want to know the truth, as well as that they are more than just in lust. As the time passes, will they bend to their attraction, or their families wishes and what will the outcome of that choice be? In this fast paced paranormal romance set in the holiday period, there is a lot of foul language, supernatural fun and a bit of sauce, with a sprinkle of magic thrown in for good measure as secrets abound and the truth is hidden under many layers of familial responsibility and it will keep you guessing right until the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Master Calabrea: Dark Vampire Romance by Sylvia Black – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Master Calabrea: Dark Vampire Romance (Masters of the Consulate Book 6)Master Calabrea: Dark Vampire Romance by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Master Calbrea is one of the vampire council members and oversees his piece of territory in Italy and now the search for Isala has come to him and he is determined to find her, he is the proverbial tall, dark and handsome and all the women love him for it. Tansia is a woman with a troubled past and deep seated insecurities because of it, so when she moves to Italy for a fresh start, she doesn’t expect anything more than a job and a chance to see her close friends, however, when she meets her friends, she is also offered a chance to use her skills to aid in a search, but there is one person who doubts her abilities and Tansia has never backed away from a challenge.

When Master Calabrea and Tansia are partnered together, they are reluctant, but it is a feisty mix with Tansia’s fiery, red headed personality and Calabrea’s dark determination, however, what they don’t expect is the heated attraction which is sparking between them. Meanwhile, Isala is turning more of the supernatural community against each other and manipulating those around her for her own gains, while placing false leads and trails everywhere.

As the days pass and they get closer to Isala, Tansia starts to discover she has some magical abilities and visions, but these are both a blessing and a curse as they lead her into insurmountable trouble and against the orders of a certain vampire master. Will her headstrong determination to protect the community she is beginning to love lead her to a brutal choice, but will she choose a future filled with love, or an ending? This is another fast paced adventure full of romance, action and supernatural antics, where time is running out and it is a race to see who will end up on top.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Spirit Guide: Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries by Byrd Nash – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Spirit Guide (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #3)Spirit Guide by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Madame Elinor Chalamet returns in another ghostly mystery to be solved, together with Tristan Fontaine, the Duke de Archambeau in the city of Alenbonné, she is still on the hunt for her fathers murderer, but when she is tasked to find a missing lady and her maid by the Duke, as the missing person is the daughter of a friend, she prepares to investigate. Although, as ever, nothing is smooth sailing for Elinor and as all the interviews have been completed and any new leads turn to naught, things seem to come to a standstill, or at least they appear to, until a visit to an old friend connects two seemingly unconnected facts.

Meanwhile, she is discovering that training an apprentice is just as frustrating as she expected, in some ways, it is even more so, especially when her apprentice acts before they think and their bumbling and clumsy nature causes more extra stress on already stressful case and as if that isn’t enough, another rather drunken and worse for wear friend, turns up and makes Elinor feel guilty and frustrated at the same time. This is as well as confusing feelings towards the prickly Duke and why he has been out of touch, despite the way they spent their last time together and how he just cannot seem to decide how he wants to treat her, but she doesn’t let this stop her from investigating in her own way, however he does insist that she has someone accompanying her when she does.

Things come to a head when it is discovered that her rival has become involved in something more than just ghost talking and that it may lead them to the missing young lady and her maid, but as she dips further into what this rival has been doing, she realises that she is going to have to break his trust and risk herself to find the missing girl, but will her ghost talking abilities lead her into more danger than she is expecting, or can she devise a plan to stop it all from going wrong? What will the Duke do when he discovers that she is missing, how far will he go and what will he do to those who stop him from trying to find her? This is another fast paced mystery where nothing is as it seems and danger lies around every corner, twisting and turning into a tangled web which has to be released so the end is revealed.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Empty Box: Invisible Magic Wand by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand)The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

February 14th has rolled around again and Caspian is just waking up, he is as excited as always to see what this years Unbirthday present from his Grandpa is, but when he opens the box and finds that it is empty, he is more than a little disappointed. When he goes down to breakfast, he is still a little sad, but when his Grandpa asks if he liked his Invisible Magic Wand, Caspian is confused, that is until his Grandpa explains how to use it.

When he has done this, Caspian’s Grandpa tells him that he can use it to either speed up, or slow down time, so what adventures will Caspian go on with his invisible Magic wand today and can it grant his wish to win a basketball game? This is another lovely addition to this series of whimsical books, where magic is real and anything is possible on an Unbirthday!

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Saving the Gingerbread House: A Science Folktale by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

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

Hansel and Gretel are having a picnic in the woods, but when they hear a mysterious knocking sound, they hurry off to investigate it and when they find the source, Gretel is amazed to see a woodpecker and is determined to add a sketch of it to her book, but when she does, neither her of Hansel can remember how to get back to their picnic area.

As they search for their way back, they talk about the rumour they had heard about the witch who wants to enter the Beautiful House Contest, but they cannot believe it, so when they smell gingerbread in the air, they decide to go on another mini adventure to see where it is coming from, this is where they see a lot of animals and birds nibbling what looks like a gingerbread house.

As they are admiring the house and tasting it at the same time, they are confronted by the house’s owner who is annoyed at them and the animals for eating their handiwork, but is it the witch and what will happen to them all now, can she still win the contest? This is a charming retelling of a classic fairy-tale with a twist and a lesson in morality which all ages will enjoy.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1)Shadow Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tamaska is a woman with a lot on her plate and the determination to succeed, as well as a clear idea of her path in life, however, when her latest venture goes terribly wrong, she is at a loss of what to do. Kodiak is a man with talent, not to mention that he is a wolf shifter and the second in command, but he has eyes on the top spot, however, when his latest job goes south, he is determined to make things right.

When Tamaska and Kodiak lock eyes the first time they meet, they can feel something smouldering between them, but they are more focussed on work than each other, no matter how hard it is to do, but when the unexpected happens, this connection they feel causes Tamaska to blame Kodiak for how things went down, but he knows he is innocent and is determined to find out the root cause of the failure. Tamaska is also determined to get answers, but when she follows a lead, she doesn’t realise the danger she is in, or that Kodiak will be in the same place at the same time and when one thing leads to another, they cannot deny their attraction any longer, but this isn’t the only dangerous territory they encounter, Kodiak is determined to protect Tamaska, even if she doesn’t want him to.

As Kodiak continues to investigate and finds out that the vampires are involved and that they are making moves which are unusual to their previous patterns and Tamaska is slap bang in the middle of it all, but when he reports what is happening to his alpha, he is given orders he doesn’t agree with and now knowing that he has to make a choice between Tamaska and his pack, what will he do and how will she react to that decision? This is a fast paced urban fantasy where difficult choices have to be made and the consequences dealt with no matter the costs and this makes it a steamy and action packed start to this series.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Summer I Went Crazy by Laura Koerber- Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The Summer I Went CrazyThe Summer I Went Crazy by Laura Koerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It all starts in high school, the last year of high school to be exact and the unforgettable summer which came along with it. The first thing you need to know is that I liked to party, get drunk, get high and forget the trials and tribulations which went along with a prep school education, summers in Europe, hobnobbing with the elite, a future in an IVY league college and following in your families footsteps, being a high flyer and successful.

One party in particular that summer stands out, well two in all honesty, the first where I got way too wasted and witnessed a rape, albeit at the time, I wasn’t sure that it even was, the second was where I was abandoned by a friend in the middle of nowhere, at night and off my head, but those two parties changed everything and not in the same ways.

They both led me to girls, the first one I wanted to help and protect and the second led me to a girl I fell head over heels in love with, we broke laws, spent time in nature and she taught me why I needed to change my direction in life, it began with a phone call and it ended in a promise, now, the time has come to make another a phone call, a phone call to someone I haven’t spoken to in years and who were close, but now are strangers, but will they answer and listen to what I have to say, only time will tell? This is a story of summer love, transition, responsibility and growth, which is told through the eyes of a teenager whose expectations do not equal reality, but told with a supernatural tint which engages you with the story even more.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews