Faithful in Love by Cecily K. Wolfe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Faithful in love is wholesome, family-orientated and based on a profound Christian principle. This story touched my soul and had me falling in love with characters and wanting more! Just when you think you have the story figured out there is a twist that keeps the pages turning. I am looking forward to the rest of this series!
Lost Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I just want to say that the opening lines of this novel make you feel like you are delving into a true story. Kudos to the author for giving us those feels right off. The writing style reminds me of some of my favorite authors in my early years of reading. Just enough mystery and action to keep me on the hook. When I read the blurb I wasn’t really expecting just how horrible Juliana’s marriage was to Gregory. Seriously, I was shocked by the events that took place and maybe a little traumatized. Knowing it was a paranormal read kept me going at this point. Juliana is a strong character, and the other characters that are presented in the story all have depth as well. I’m glad this is a series so I can stay in this world a little while longer. Looking forward to next story!
Seductively Yours by Anise Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Rhyann moves to New York to follow her dream of being a dancer. While she has received a scholarship, she finds that she is going to need a job…so she applies to be a dancer at a local club. Little does she know that the man she needs to hire her is the man she had a one night stand with.
Mason has a rule of never mixing business with pleasure. That rule has never been an issue until the latest job applicant is a woman he shared a night with. He almost doesn’t hire her because of his rule…but decides to hire her anyway. Just means that their one night will stay one night.
But, as they dance around their feelings for each other while their lives become intertwined, will they be able to stay away from each other?!? Or, is another Titan going to be brought to his knees by a strong woman?!? (If you have read any of the other books…you know how this is going to go!)
Another great book in the series. I have enjoyed these characters from the beginning…and it was entertaining to see Mason get his turn as the lead. Rhyann is a strong character…which is the type of woman that a Titan needs. Once again, the author has told a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed!
The Thunderbird Academy Trilogy by Valia Lind
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I could not get enough of this series. I loved it. It had a good story concept and characters that really delivered. This box set was impossible not to devour. I am so happy I got to enjoy iy. It was one I could not put down and would say everyone would find something they liked about it.
For me I loved the aspect of the use of fantasy and magic used within this series. The characters were really connectable and brought everything to life. I loved how each book it developed into something full of wonder. I love fantasy to begin with, but really loved the writing style of this one as well. The characters each had their own personality and I loved that. I found in the end they all really connected in one way or another with one another. Really had fun reading this one box set!
Wonderful series and creative author! I can not get enough of the story and world the author has created. I highly recommend this box set as well as the author! Well worth a read! Loved it!
–❦–❀ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ❀–❦–➳
“There’s something different about you… Something untamed. Something mysterious. It’s driving me crazy.”
Battered and bruised from a previous relationship, Vanessa now prefers a quiet life as a chef on a new planet. But then a captivating star-being storms into her life and whips up a whirlwind of emotions that makes her heart yearn for things she has long forgotten.
Arkon, a skilled soldier who prefers numbers, charts, and anything with absoluteness is attracted to Vanessa. But she favors no rules and lures him out of his comfort zone. Having been scorned once, he fears she will burn him.
Is their union a recipe for love or destruction?
I love writing otherworldly and contemporary romance novels. I’m an artist, and I love to create visuals to convey my stories.
I live in Massachusetts with my husband who keeps me grounded to Earth and two creative children who think I have my own secret planet. They’re onto something…
(¸.•*
.*•.¸)*•. BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE .•*(¸.•*.*•.¸)*•.
A Shamrock has three leaves.
A Clover can have more.
Faith, hope, and love are standard.
But luck is always number four.
He’s a sinner when it comes to love; she’s a saint. They’re both searching for the elusive fourth leaf and a little luck. If they meet in the middle, they might just find it and each other.
Shamrock & Clover is a sweet Romantic Comedy chronicling the journey of one unlikely couple in their search for love.
C.A. King, USA Today Bestselling Author, is the recipient of several awards, including:
The Hamilton Spectator Readers’ Choice Award for 2017, 2018 & 2019 in the Best Local Author category; The Brant News Readers’ Choice Award for 2017 Best Local Author; Readers’ Favorite award in the short story/novella category; the 2017 SIBA Award for Best New Adult; the 2017 SIBA Award for Best Novella; 2018 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards: Gold Medal in the Fiction—Supernatural genre; 2018 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards: Bronze Medal in the Fiction – New Adult genre; 2019 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards: Gold Medal in the Fiction – Supernatural genre; 2019 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards: Gold Medal in the Young Adult – Fantasy – Urban Genre; City of Brantford Featured Artist February 2020; Burlington Post Readers’ Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2020; Toronto Star Readers’ Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2020; Cambridge Times Readers’ Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2020; Burlington Post Readers’ Choice Award in the Best Local Author Category 2021; and 2021 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards: Gold Medal in the Fiction — Holiday category.
Currently residing in Hamilton, Ontario Canada, she lives with her two sons. She began her writing career after the tragic loss of her parents and husband. Redirecting her emotions through the jotting down of stories became therapeutic in her battle with depression and in 2014 she decided to begin publishing some of her works.
Checking Boxes by Magdoline Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As with any new to me author i go in with an open mind and jump right in. I really loved this story even if it took a bit for me to get immersed into it (i blame my rambunctious children for this).
This was a well told story that really had me wanting to know more and more and then just feeling all of it, every single word.
I am now going to be finding the rest of this authors work and reading everything.
(Un)Loved by Katy Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is my first book by this author and the first book in this series. I cannot wait to see what comes next! The storyline felt realistic, and I enjoyed getting to know G and Sophie more. I laughed a lot while reading. I wasn’t so sure of Sophie in the beginning, but she became easier to like throughout the book. If you’re looking for something sweet and funny, while also being realistic then this book is for you!
Checking Boxes by Magdoline Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have not read this author before, but I will be going back to find and read other books by her! I easily got caught up in Ian and Grace’s story of meeting by chance. I felt all the emotions they were going through, and the lesson learned from this story is what secrets do to people. This was a great book. Pick it up today. Definitely recommend.
Depending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh my! What an excellent storyteller she is! I was so caught up in the story of Cate and Patti that nothing else mattered! I finished all my chores as quick as possible just so I could get right back to reading this emotional story. If you want to know what happens between these 2 best friends, you’ll have to pick up the book and find out. You will not be disappointed! Great book!
Until there was you by G. Colgrove
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a great fairytale romance story. I really enjoyed the fast pace, and dual point of view, it made me feel like I was really getting to know Regan and Jeremy. I was instantly hooked and finished it within one setting. I couldn’t put it down. My only complaint is that I read it too fast because I needed to know what was going to happen next! Highly recommend!
Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A story of intrigue, finding love, past and present and stepping back in time. Moderately dramatic, this story had many elements that made it an interesting read. Decadence and dastardly liaisons are also prevalent in this saga and the authors attention to detail on point. A real page turned that kept a readers attention from start to finish. Engaging with the characters was effortless and the unfolding of the story was meticulous and well thought out. thorough and complete drama that was well worth the read. 4 stars.
The Thunderbird Academy Trilogy by Valia Lind
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a very entertaining box set. Fans of Harry Potter will enjoy this set. The battle against evil will always be fought. She feels a little lost. Her best friends are in hiding. She’s losing her magic. The Ancients are at the outer areas of the school. Once you start the first the start the first book, you just don’t want to set it down. You are pulled right into to the new school year and all the challenges that come with it. (even the magic). The characters were awesome. The moody wolf shifter. The quiet roommate who knows who she is but respects it. The plot is very engaging. The story would keep a young adult into fantasy stories engaged through the whole series (even us older HP fans). I am going to highly recommend this to all fantasy lovers.
Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Van has been training hard since last summer’s mission. Now that she knows she is the Anchoress and has the responsibility of saving her people, she is starting to feel the pressure. She fell in love with Brux only to find out that they can never be together. As the summer mission becomes increasingly hard on the team, can Van find her light in the midst of the dark surrounding her? Can she love Prince Ferox despite having feelings for Brux?
This series is keeping me on my toes! So much is going on with Van’s need to find items of Creation, and her wrestling with her feeling for two boys. The way she works through it all is very well written. I love her friendships and how they are not without their complications. I felt that in this book it is learning about self-reflection and how to combat those dark feelings when they creep in.
Definitely recommend this book to any high schooler! Clean YA read!
Shock of Fate by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Van is wrapped up in her own world and only focused on her summer plans. Suddenly, her dad goes missing and she’s recruited for a special summer mission. She thinks everything is stacked against her until she realizes that her fate is not as simple as the next girl her age. Van is thrust into mission where she discovers more about herself and her heritage than she has her entire life. Does she have what it takes to save both the Earth World and the Living World? Is she the fated Anchoress?
What a fun YA read! I enjoyed reading Van transform from a selfish, self-centered teen to one that looks at others and becomes their champion. This had me thinking about a girl version of Percy Jackson sans the Greek mythology. I enjoyed reading about a new world in danger of history repeating itself.
Highly recommend this YA read. It has clean language and good lessons on looking inside oneself to evaluate what the right choice is.
Love’s Full Circle by Cherry Christensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it was great! This is a feel-good wholesome story that will make anyone who loves romance novels happy. While the main characters at the beginning of the story had held a little animosity towards each other, but that changed when they met up again. While they knew each other previously and had drifted apart they were able to connect. This was a story that I enjoyed in a few short hours as I could not put it down and cannot wait to read more by this author!
Seductively Yours by Anise Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is definitely one of the hottest and most engaging stories in this series. I love the angst of this romance. Rhyann has come to NYC to pursue dance at a prestigious college. Finding herself without any money, she takes a suggestion from her roommate to try exotic dancing at one of the clubs. She ends up working for the man she had a one night stand with. It only amps up from there with two people who are trying to stay away from each other. Between the exotic dancing, the working relationship, and the chemistry – it makes for a lot of steam and intense roller coaster of emotions. You don’t have to start with book one as I feel this is a standalone, but there is mention of the previous romances. The Titans of Manhattan are club owners and friends so there is some crossover.
Juliet’s Journey to Love by Elsie Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Four-star read that shows some promise. I liked this story, but Juliet rubbed me up the wrong way at times, she is strong and passionate, but sometimes needs to step back and take a breath. It was odd as I liked her when she showed her simple less abrasive side, than the strong independent one. Jake was a slow burn but as he revealed his true self you get to know him deeper and understand him better, that made it all the better for me. I think if it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t have enjoyed the story as much.
Review by @saraoxo
Bella-An Appalachian Love Story & Jagged Dawn-Logan’s Beginnings by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I have to say this story plot was interesting and the Characters where strongly written with little quirks and all.
Bella story begins 50years ago high in the hills of Appalachian we follow Logan’s great grandmother, Norah, and Giovanni, a young Italian immigrant, who creates his masterpiece, a hand-crafted violin named Bella with unparalleled sound that accompanies each generation that follows.
Logan McKenna is battered and wounded, after tragedy and now she is struck into an unknown future. Logan isn’t just a survivor she is thriving driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in her gleaming, sapphire-blue ’58 Corvette rediscovering her love for music playing her beloved Bella.
Come read Logans story and discover the mysteries of Bella and the Appalachian hills….
Tracy
Checking Boxes by Magdoline Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a four-star read that will check all of your boxes. I enjoyed this one, it was steamy and sweet in a great way, I enjoyed the whole story, it just needed a little more polish to it. The romance blossoming between Ian and Grace will sweep you up, and take you with them on their journey, the more we get to know Ian and what makes him tick, just makes you all warm and fuzzy in the end. This has the makings of being a great story, and I am excited to see what else this author will bring us.
Review by @saraoxo
I Dream of Cassie: A Student-Teacher Age-Gap Romance by Diana Vale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. It is a student teacher romance written from the view of the teacher. After reading the first one from the view of the student it was nice to read this one from the opposite view point. The author does an amazing job with the characters. They are very deep.
Diego is a teacher at Kirk. He has just got out of a really long marriage and doesn’t think he will ever find love again. That is until he meets Cassie. Their attraction and chemistry is instant but because of Diego’s job he tries to avoid getting involved.
When they finally give in things still don’t run smoothly. With Diegos job and an ex wife making the divorce harder than it needs to be. Their path to love doesn’t run smooth.
(Un)Loved by Katy Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a fab four-star read. This is number one in the Mixed Emotions series and my first read by this author, but it won’t be the last, as I enjoyed the premise of the story and am eager to get my teeth into number two. It could have done with more polish, but overall, I enjoyed the story. The chemistry is good, but the romance was okay. Sophie irritated me a little at first, I just couldn’t get to grips with her at first, she left me cold, but then I warmed to her and I really liked her in the end.
Review by @saraoxo
The Killer Jack Mystery by C.H. Sessums
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book follows Jenny as she tries to uncover the mystery revolving around a necklace her cousin is wearing that Jenny’s uncle claims is stolen and could get his daughter, Jenny’s cousin, in trouble. As Jenny tracks down her cousin she ends up realizing she is in for a bigger case than she realized as she now has to try to find the stolen jewelry and now a murderer. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I read it in less than 5 hours. I was hooked immediately and there were just enough characters and possible suspects to keep me intrigued and questioning everyone without having too many people that it got confusing. This was a very well-done mystery with a satisfying twisty ending. Reading this book would be a fun way to spend a few hours of your day as you won’t be able to put it down once you start. Highly recommend. 4/5 stars
The Ghastly Gumball by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have read quite a few books by this author and I have enjoyed every book I have read by her. This author has a dramatic flair that make her stories realistic even though this story has Magic, Romance, and Shifters and chaos. The characters and plot where wonderfully written.
This book had me laughing so much I was in tears.
Tracy
Kiss of the Swan by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Oh my, this fairytale is so sweet! It nods to a few well known fairtales, reminding me a bit of Sleeping Beauty and a bit of The Swan Princess. Right from the start, I was totally immersed and curisous as to where the story was going. It felt familar, yet new at the same time. Cathal was such a cinnamon bun, and such an easy person to root for. Eala was so caring and fierce all at once. There were several twists and turns leading to the resolution, which tied the story up nicely. Definitely enjoyed this read!
Reviewed by @asanabr1
Kiss of the Swan by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this romance story. I loved the fairy tale feel about it and the parts of the story that were similar to Sleeping Beauty.
The author does an amazing job writing the characters and their story will grip you from beginning to end. I literally couldn’t put it down. This is a story about love overcoming all odds stacked against them and really being unconditional. You can’t help but feel for our characters because at every turn something seems to get in the way of their love.
This is the story of Cathal and Eala.
Cathal is always following his brother trying to stop him getting into trouble. On one occasion he ends up on Swan Island. This is a scared placed and no one should be there or harm the Kings swans.
When he is injured by the swans he meets Eala who is the queen. As their relationship grows there are all sorts of obstacles for the couple to over come. All Ealan wants is to be with Cathal however she has a need to protect her people and also she is trapped on the Island by the king.
Cathal wants to rescue her and release her from this guided prison however he’s not sure how and with secrets and outside forces working against them.Can they both become free and together and also save Ealan’s people or will it all be to much and drag the couple apart?
Love’s Full Circle by Cherry Christensen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
3 Stars
Love’s Full Circle by Cherry Christensen is a sweet contemporary second chance romance- with angst, drama, religion, Christian values, and a ‘clean’ storyline. It is under 200 pages long- which makes it a very quick and easy read.
Kayden and Liam have a past history- the two having been sweethearts back in high school- until Liam left Kayden with a broken heart. She has since moved on and made a life for herself as a successful therapist. But when Liam shows up out of the blue, full of regret for his past actions, she has no interest I having her heart broken, again. Will he be able to convince her to take a second chance on love- or will she shut him out for good? You will need to read the story if you want to find out what happens….
I really wanted to love this story far more than I did- but I found it really difficult to connect with the characters or invest in their story. Maybe it is just me, and I just had an ‘off’ reading day- so I will revisit this book again in a few weeks to see if I still feel the same way.
Thank you, Cherry Christensen!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
The Thunderbird Academy Trilogy by Valia Lind
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was my first time reading a book from the author. This quickly turned into one of my favorite trilogies. I was not able to put my phone down with it, I had to finish it all in one go. The story between Aiden and Maya is amazing. I highly recommend you reading this, you won’t be disappointed. I’m excited to read more of her works.
The Killer Jack Mystery by C.H. Sessums
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
The Killer Jack Mystery is the second book in The J.D. Pierson Case Files by C.H. Sessums. This is quite an intriguing historical cosy mystery- and we tag along on this case, getting involved in the investigation whilst trying to piece everything together before the reveal. The Killer Jack Mystery is a ‘whodunnit’ packed full of drama, murder, adventure, action, danger, and theft- with an interesting and somewhat quirky cast.
JD Pierson has stepped in to try to keep her father’s PI business afloat after he turns to alcohol in his grief after the death of his wife (JD’s mother). She desperately wants to save not only his business, but also his reputation- and in doing so JD proves to be quite resourceful and clever. She certainly proves herself as she unravels this mystery.
This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Sessums, and not having read the first book I was a little concerned that I would feel like I was ‘missing’ things in this story. But that wasn’t the case at all- this book can definitely be read as a standalone. But having said that, I notice that there are three more books already published in this series, so I will certainly be going back and to read the first book, before exploring the rest of the series.
A great little cosy mystery!
Happy Reading!
Thank you, C.H. Sessums!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Checking Boxes by Magdoline Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
Checking Boxes is a steamy contemporary romance and debut novel by Magdoline Ward. Ian and Grace had intense chemistry and their story pulled me in right from the beginning. The author didn’t hold back, and the story was unexpected in so many ways- it is a cleverly woven angsty story full of intensity, chemistry, secrets, passion, pain, trust issues, and surprising developments.
I liked this so much that I went looking for more from this author, only to discover that this is her debut novel- so that made me even more impressed. I will be keeping an eye out for more releases from her in the future, because if this book is anything to go by, there are even greater things to come.
Well worth the read…
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Magdoline Ward!
Reviewed by @angelahayes