Bake Off by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
In the first book, Cat discovered something with baking. Now she’s on a mission to learn more. She goes to the source of her family’s bakery that consist of her Great Grammy and Aunt Jojo. During this time, she has to help with many tasks and learn what baking with magic can really do. It was a fun read!
Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I found this book immersed me right from the first few lines on the first page! I loved the way the author created and wrote this story! I found my eyes were opened to visuals as well as different takes on the story through the eyes of the characters! Was very much a must read and I truly enjoyed this book!
The book consisted of 3 tales. I found each one captivating and different in its own special way. The characters faced odds and difficulties as they found as I would like to say, their purpose I was captivated to by how the characters handled things and how each one reached its outcome and its flow of the story. Gods and monsters are often feared, but are we as the humans who should be feared instead? The book made me think and see things differently. The book was amazing and I really enjoyed this collection!
Amazing book and if you love reading mythological readings as I do, then this one is surely to be enjoyed by you! A must read and a high recommendation from me! Wonderful writing by a gifted author!
Flame and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is hands down a must read book! I loved how the book starts and how the flow goes and for sure how the author as well as the book keeps you in anticipation as you read! The book was an amazing read full of everything I would expect from a world such as the Faerie and so much more! Loved it!
I loved the visuals the author used to describe how the Faerie world and all its containments looked like. I found I was right there with Chole on my my own magical adventure! Speaking of Chole, she was such a relatable character. Her actions were human and I loved seeing how she handled occurrences and tasks she was given. She was quite commendable! The story adds more and more as you read, leaving you wanting more. I loved this new start to a series and I certainly can not wait for the next!
Amazing and wonderful book by a very talented author! I highly recommend this new series, and this book as not ones to be missed! Loved it from start to finish! I look forward to my next visit to Faerie!
Midnight Magic by Gina Kincade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this collection of stories and books by very talented authors. I really was taken win with reading the story called Witch Switch, as the author had drawn me in right from the start and I was hooked!
The story brought a lot to the table I found. Paranormal and amazing characters that went along with it. I found the story went at a good pace, and everything made sense, as well as, I could not put this book down. Something I enjoyed specifically about this book was the strong character development. The characters really grew as the story went on and were all very connectable. As I said I was hooked and intrigued with the amazing writing and story flow! Highly recommend this one! Loved it!
Witch Switch is one I truly did connect to and I highly recommend reading the author and their story and seeing what I am talking about! I do highly recommend, and I ensure you won’t be disappointed!
The Wish-Eater by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book I could not stop ready. The author wrote these characters very well, we can tell how they are feeling and vividly see what they are doing. This one reminds me of an adult fairytale. The Wish-Eater comes into town and Elodie jumps at the chance to make a wish. She longs to be a mom. She has an obstacle to get through to make her wish come true, she learns so values along the way. I highly recommend this book.
Midnight Magic by Gina Kincade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Magical collection
A stand out in this collection was Witch Switch. This was a fast paced short story that grabs you from the start. Everything unfolds fairly quickly but the author has a way of including all the necessary details. The characters were easily relatable and the world building well done. I enjoyed the twists and magical adventure of the story. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a truly wonderful period fiction piece! This coming of age book about Margaret Rose Locke hits right in the feels as the reader is brought through the struggles of poverty, and living in a time when women still held little to no rights or freedoms apart from the men in their lives, times of war when nearly everyone was touched by loss, when divorcees were considered social pariahs, and when being a single mom came with more hardships than necessary.
As Margaret perseveres through it all and proves her resilience and drive to provide for her children, the reader is immersed in a different time in America with the promise of dreams and where reality oftentimes didn’t live up to expectations. Unlucky in love, ambitious to have a better life, fighting for her independence, Margaret is a representation of women who struggled against society’s expectations with the hopes of having a better life than the one they were born into. There’s also a strong theme of family bonds that are sometimes both a curse and a blessing.
I absolutely loved this book, and especially enjoyed the personal note at the end describing how the book loosely tied to the author’s own life. It reminded me of stories my own grandma shared with me as her family weathered poverty following the Great Depression and how she bucked her parents’ expectations for her to simply become a housewife when she was driven to have her own career at a time when there were very limited opportunities for women. These types of women are our role models, heroines, and pioneers of the time.
The Curse of a Faeblood by M.K. Lorber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There was so much to consider and think about and fall in love with within these pages. The hardships of the outsider that doesn’t feel she deserves to belong anywhere, the doubts that arise from the presence of said outsider and really anyone that doesn’t fit into the mold that society has told all folks we need to in order to be ‘right.’ Ember, being the outsider, has had a rough go for the last while, and is just stopping into town to replenish her supplies through questionable methods. Luckily, unluckily for her, this village has fighters and those made to protect, which is exactly what Gavyn feels he needs to do upon first interaction with her. There’s something about loss that can allow you to connect with those that you may not have before. Intrigued? Read this novel!
This author has a fantastic way about her that brings the story right off the pages and into the readers dreams, be it at night or daydreams. There were so many characters, some may find it difficult to allow for us to be able to connect with them all, if not the majority, but she did so without question. I very much look forward to venturing further on this troublesome/fruitful journey with Ember, Gavyn, Jade, and all those from the compound. The only thing, for me, was I found that it was a little long winded at times, but that’s to be expected from the first installment of a series. Bravo to the character development, world building, and nail biting! Will be recommending this novel for sure.
Flame and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this young adult fantasy story. This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites by this author. This is the first book in this new series for this author in which I can’t wait for the next book. I enjoyed how the author is able to pull me into her stories with her writing skills and her attention to details that make her stories come to life. This book is no different. This is a story about Chloe and her past that comes begging her to return. Chloe is happy to be back in her human life until her past comes knocking and asking her to return to Faerie. She reluctantly goes and now is faced with saving a companion and dealing with a new magic. You don’t want to miss what happens with Chloe. She is a great character that made the story for me. She is supportive and strong. I enjoyed how I was pulled into the story from the beginning. The growth of the plot made the story easy and entertaining to read. This is a story that took me on a fantasy adventure that was fast paced, engaging and just kept me coming back for more. I really enjoyed reading this story and I highly recommend it.
Review by @bjwagner
Captivated by Toya Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fascinating take on a fated mates romance. Angelina is living a completely normal life other than her steamy dreams about two men she’s never met. One day everything changes and when she’s in fear for her life those same two men appear and save her. She’s the fated mate of not one brother but both. They have to fight demons along the way if they want to have a chance at true happiness. This was such a great book I just couldn’t set it down once I started reading. This book has everything a romance lover could want, heat, vampires, angels and demons with plenty of action. You won’t want to miss the amazing start to this new series, and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Captivated by Toya Richardson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book in a new series. The fmc is a human who is swept up into a world of demons, vampires, and angels. She finds herself to be the mate of 2 vampire/angel hybrid brothers and fighting against demons. The story is entertaining and keeps the reader engaged. Occasionally the dialogue feels a little unnatural but only slightly and could be reader interpretation. All in all this is an interesting series!
Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse by Jay Veloso Batista
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse is the first book in the series. Fantasy, Scandinavian folklore, Vikings and Norse mythology what’s not to like? This award-winning story is told in multiple points of view bringing so much more depth and realism to the story. It is action packed and a fast paced read. I really enjoyed the rich and vivid narrative that brings the story to life. The historical, the folklore, the mythology and the characters and world building are magically woven in to an impressive fantasy action adventure. I was transported back in time where life was dangerous and epic battles were the norm. There is a cast of characters that I hope to see get their own stories. I love stories that involve history and the supernatural, magic and ghosts, witches and curses.
Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse is a must read.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Captivated by Toya Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Captivated is a fated mates romance tale. I really enjoy Toya’s unique and clever writings and the characters. This one is engaging and is probably my favourite to date. This is a great paranormal tale with magic and the supernatural, danger, drama, and so more. Toya makes her worlds and characters charming and delightful and makes you feel their emotions. It is a thrilling read. The emotions and chemistry and the erotica left you feeling loved and were hot, hot, hot!!
It is a captivating story where our MCs are twins who are created to help keep demons from destroying mankind. To be able to do this they were created as a mixture of both angel and vampire, hybrids. The know their perfect mate is out there but have yet to find her before she is taken forever.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Taming of the Few by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
Taming of the Few: A Thrilling Irish Urban Fantasy Adventure (Guardians of the PHAE #1) by Rowan Dillon
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. Taming of the Few is an amazing book. It’s also the first of the genre I’ve read that’s had me hooked from the beginning. It’s the first book in the Guardians of the PHAE series.
Anna is a teacher who isn’t exactly all human. She’s got scales on her skin and one of her students catches it. She has to hide it before something happens. The quote I chose for Anna is: “I’m not sure what you mean. One of my students came back after practice while I did laps. Surely that’s not an issue?”
Max is a soldier and now he’s teaming up with Anna. Can she help him overcome his PSTD? Can he help her overcome the fact that she’s not exactly all human. The quote I chose for Max is: “Oi, you don’t waste time, do you, Hiroki? I would never have thought it of ya. Look at you, the ladies’ man!”
Highly recommended for Paranormal Fantasy lovers.
The Fighter by India Kells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the third inatallment in this series, and boy was it filled with suspense, action, romance, and so much more. The characters were not only enthralling, but they were sweet, romantic, mysterious and so much more. There were a few times that our authors words are so perfect they feel like they could pull you right into the story. So while this is the third istallment in the series it could be read as a stand alone so definitely pick this one up today.
The Fighter by India Kells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really good read! This story was sexy, steamy, and very well written. The plot was great, and the characters just came to life on the pages. While I also found this one predictable, it still grabbed me and kept me interested enough to keep reading. This book was short, which I enjoyed because it made it a quick read, and still packed full of enough interesting content without skipping on the details. This has been a great series and I have highly enjoyed reading them.
The Traitor by India Kells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the second installment in this series, and it was even better then the first. While both of these books can be read as stand alones, their both good so i would definitely recommend reading both if you get the chance. The characters in this one are fantastic, the plot has enough action to really make your mind think, and the overall story as great. The main characters were my favorite they were funny, sweet, romantic and so much more. So if your looking for a short adventurous read pick this one up today.
The Traitor by India Kells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a decent read. It wasn’t my favorite I’ve ever read, but it wasn’t bad either. This is part of a series but can be read a standalone. I did like this book, but I guessed what would happen at the get go, so it kind of lost my attention while I was reading. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline however, and it was well written. It had great character development and because of the main female character, Josie, it was decently emotional as well. It was also a quick read, which I enjoyed. Overall I did enjoy it and will definitely look forward to more books from this author in the future.
The True Purpose of Vines by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love this story. So beautiful. It has all the love and romance you could want, but add in history and wine to make this book truly unique. The story is set in Portugal, where a widowed mother is a winemaker in a time where women were not involved in such things. Julia is an awesome character who has her own mind and does things her own way. Griffin is only doing what he needs to do to get his family’s good name back. The growing attraction between them is not anything that either was looking for, but how will they handle it. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
The Debt Collector by India Kells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is the first that i have read from this author and while I was highly intrigued it did leave me wanting just a little bit more background and character development. Tessa is our main character and I really loved her but I would have loved her even more with just a little more back story. However there is plenty of action and suspense to keep the readers on their toes. So all in all this was a pretty good read and it would be a great choice to get out of a reading slump.
Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Blood & Ravens is the first book in The Casket Girls series. I love it so much. Greer is so strong and determined. She has a way about her that just seems to draw you in. Theron is not all that he seems at first look. He is acting out of character and he is not sure why. He is being pulled towards Greer. This world that the author has built is wonderful. New Orleans and all of its charm. A variety of characters that are well thought out and interesting. I definitely can’t wait for the next book in this series!
The Fighter by India Kells
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Juliet is used to believing in herself and not relying on anyone, but when her friend Ten was ready to make a life changing decision, they made the choice to depend on each other. After a few too many hiccups, Ten decides he’s going to fix their problems by cage fighting. When he injured his opponent, things go a bit awry when payback is craved.
Jonathan Gage has been burned one too many times, and has given up on the idea of love when Juliet and Ten stumble their way into his path. Determined to help them, he invites them into his home and between them all they agree to explore the feelings growing between them all.
As luck would have it, Gage must give up the woman he’s found himself falling in love with, but Juliet must also figure out if what she really wants is her best friend or the fighter whose stolen her heart.
I stepped out of my comfort zone for this book and I definitely struggled with reading it. I think the storyline was well thought out and the plot has some really strong points. I found several errors throughout the book with words missing, out of place, and misspelled or incorrect which can be very distracting for a reader.
I enjoyed the characters and the development of them as individuals and as a unit. When I tend to look at romance, I tend to go for a duo, and reading this enforced that three or more in a relationship is definitely not for me.
The Fighter was definitely well thought out and planned, but another round of editing would have been good. Also, be sure to know what you’re getting into when picking a romance. I made the error of not realizing this was a MMF trope and may have gone a different route had I caught on to that.
The True Purpose of Vines by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Historical fiction is probably my absolute favorite genre outside of clean romance books and this book completely merged the two into an amazing story. The author does an amazing job at not just the basic facts of the time period but really digging into the motives behind why people did certain things during that time period.
It was wonderful to read just how fierce Julia was in the way she protected her home and her sons legacy in a time when women were not accepted in the “man’s” world. The passion she has is evident from the very first time we meet her.
Griffin was thrown into adult responsibility way too fast and he is determined to make sure his mother and sister are taken care of, even if that means he isn’t being true to himself. He has a strong sense of honor and duty especially when it comes to doing the right thing for his family but to see his outer shell crack and his true self emerge is a wonderful transition.
The Debt Collector by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first book in the series as well as the first book that I have read by this author, and I was not disappointed. I have not read a book like this one before and was in new territory as I was not expecting certain aspects that happened in the book. The storyline was one that had me on the edge of the bed as I was reading. There were lots of steamy scenes between the main characters that were expertly written. I cannot wait to read the next books in the series!
The Fighter by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This author knows how to capture my attention and keep me completely hooked from start to finish. I’ve gotten to where I don’t even have to know what the book is about before reading it I just know the author is bringing a story I won’t forget. The characters in this book instantly made me jump into their world, they all played well off each other and I had the hardest time when the end was near but I simply couldn’t put it down. It’s well written storyline with characters you won’t soon forget. It’s definitely worth a one click in my opinion. Five big stars and highly recommended.
Taming of the Few by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Taming of the Few had such a fresh take on magical hybrids! Strange transformations are taking place in certain bloodlines of people and nobody knows why! Ostracized from society, they are trained & honed to be useful for their own cause. Can Anna keep pace when all she is trained to do is swim? Can she master these powers inside her in time? Absolutely worth the read!
This Night Has Ended by Alexander Charalambides
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story picks up and runs full throttle. There is so much going on. The characters have been constantly evolving and they are just trying to do what is right for everyone. At its base, this is a story about social injustice set in a dystopian setting. Really, you have two different things going on at the same time — trying to survive in what this world has become, and trying to get everyone to live together peacefully, while getting the word out as to what is really happening. Then there is the evolution of Rowena herself. There is so much build up as to what will happen on all of these accounts. There are many surprises along the way, too. I never saw what was coming next and could not put the book down.
The previous books should be read first since there really is no back story given to lead us into the current book. But the story is quite interesting and the characters are unique and complex. You should try this series.
The Wish-Eater by Claire Luana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Definitely not what I was expecting but really good nonetheless! This is my first read by this author and I am definitely a huge fan. She is really great at conveying how the characters are feeling throughout the story, so much so I felt like I was right there along with them living their experiences.
As someone with medical issues that may prevent any future pregnancies of mine, I very much related with Elodie in her struggles that pushed her into looking for alternatives, making her pursue the services of the ‘Wish-Eater’ that has mysteriously shown up in her village. As the book continued, I was sucked in further and further, wondering if her desire to have children would come to be as the book made many twists and turns.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I loved the fantasy aspect of it and how the author managed to modernize it in a way they people would be able to relate to. Will definitely be reading more by them in the future!
The Curse of a Faeblood by M.K. Lorber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Gavyn has caught Ember attempting to steal a loaf of bread from his sister, Jade. Jade takes Ember as a guest and has her work for the bread. Gavyn doesn’t trust the girl and believes she is up to no good. Little does he know, Ember fully intends to continue on her travels to the Northern Isles. Ember had lost her mother on their journey. She taught Ember to never use her powers in front of others, as humans did not accept Faeblood. Jade, however, persuades Ember to stay in Midpointe. As days pass, Ember has difficulty hiding her attraction to Gavyn. She also has felt at home in the village, something she had never experienced with her mother. However, trouble is brewing from the High Court, and the village is on the line if Ember’s Faeblood heritage is revealed. Who is the spy in Midpointe? Why would anyone endanger the village?
Exit Strategy by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have to say that I have read all this series so far and boy I am hooked. I love how the author brings the characters to life and I love how the books flow one after the other. This whole series is one of my favorites so far.
I like how the story is balanced with just enough drama. I love how the characters have depth. My favorite part was the ending. I really like how there was just the slightest underlying romance and that was an added bonus. I hope in future to read more from this author.
Reviewed by @caraleeloonat
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