Home to the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was such a sweet story. I instantly loved the characters, and it was fun, and interesting to follow their stories. I was hooked from the first page. I felt all the emotions throughout reading. The way the author writes transports you. I felt like I could see everything with my own eyes. Highly recommend!
Depending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The author managed to combine tragedy, secrets, friendship and love in a heartfelt way. I felt the pain and joy the characters felt. As I predicted what was coming, there was another twist. I envy the friendship between the main characters and the strength they had even through some very difficult moments.
Journeys Through AllCreation by James Talisman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read this book as a stand alone, but now need to go back and read the first two books. I feel like there were some things that would have made more sense if I had read all of them, instead of starting with the third book. The characters and plot were well defined and laid out. This is not the normal type of book I read, but I did find it to be an interesting book over all. Plenty of action to keep people who are fans of that genre entertained and reading. Plenty of interpersonal situations to keep you hooked as well.
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BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~~~~
Trapped in an endless cycle of life and death…
When civilization fell generations ago, it seemed to mark the end of humanity… but then the undead inexplicably returned to life. Again and again, the plague rose, the zombies thrived and were then reborn.
Into this horrific apocalypse came Baron, a wild man from nowhere, onto the vestiges of the human world. After his keen survival instincts lead him to kill a strange man, Baron finds himself imprisoned by an even stranger woman, the child of immortals who might hold the key to ending the vicious cycle once and for all.
But only if this unlikely pair can survive the next outbreak…
Megan Mackie is a Chicago writer. She started her writing career as an indie author and had such smashing success in her first year with her inaugural book The Finder of the Lucky Devil, that she made the transition to traditional publishing. She has become a personality at many cons, recognizable by her iconic leather hat and engaging smile. She has written five novels including: The Finder of the Lucky Devil, The Saint of Liars, The Devil’s Day, Death and the Crone, and Saint Code: The Lost through Blue Phoenix Publishing. Her short fiction collections includes Changing Breeds, an anthology of short stories from the Werewolf RPG game.
She is also a contributing writer in the role-playing game Legendlore and Legendlore: Legacies by Onyx Path Publishing and Sirens: Battle of the Bards through Apotheosis Studios. Outside of writing, she likes to play games: board games, RPGs, and video games. She has a regular Pathfinder group who is working their way through Rapanthuk. She lives in Chicago with her husband and children, dog, three cats, and her mother in the apartment upstairs.
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My life has sucked for as far back as I can remember. My folks didn’t want me so I was thrown into foster care. Let me just say lots of fun. NOT.
Then one day, my life took a dramatic change. My circumstances improved greatly. I met The Grimm Wolves MC and they took me under their wing. I became not only a prospect but also part of their brotherhood.
Now I’ve let my brothers down not once, but twice, in less than a month. What if I don’t belong with the club? Feeling the weight of life, how can I prove to the only family I have ever had that I’m worth the trouble? Or maybe the truth is I’m not reliable and useful after all? It all depends on how much of my failure The Grimm Wolves MC are willing to put up with by one of their newest prospects.
D.M. Earl is a USA Today bestselling author who spins stories about real-life situations with characters that are authentic, genuine, and sincere. Each story allows the characters to come to life with each turn of the page while they try hard while sometimes, they stumble to find their HEA through much drama and angst. Being an avid reader as a child and dreaming of writing her own stories one day this became reality with the support of her hubby. Fulfilling this bucket item has been very rewarding. D.M. now lives in Northwest Indiana with her husband and their seven fur-babies. If she doesn’t have a book or Kindle in hand she is working on her next story. She has plenty of characters fighting to be the first so many books to come as long as readers enjoy.
COVER REVEAL Now that Cat knows what her baking can do, it’s time to discover why and how!
Cat and her family roadtrip all the way to Arizona for Thanksgiving break. When they arrive at the family bakery, instead of getting the answers to her bazillions of questions, Cat finds herself in the middle of a real-life bakery showdown. The baking is bonkers, emotions are all over the place and the stakes keep getting higher.
Will Cat ever discover what makes her family so super weird?
Find out in Bake-Off, the sequel to Bake Believe.
Return of the Elf Lord by Heidi Vanlandingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 Stars
What lengths would you go to in order to save those you love? Would you change history to bring them back? Well, that’s exactly what Bernard does- the loss of his family weighing heavily on his soul, Bernard changes history, which comes with devastating consequences. He has a chance to make things right- to restore the original timeline. And so, the quest begins…..
Return of the Elf Lord is the first book in the Kingdom of the Elf Lords series by Heidi Vanlandingham. It is a wonderfully original mix of fantasy, the paranormal, Norse mythology, elves, magic, action, romance, drama, emotion, adventure, loss/sadness, responsibility, and superb world building….. and it turned out to be every bit as good as I hoped it would be.
This is a wonderful start to a new series that I can’t wait to return to asap, with ‘The Elf Lords Curse” (Book #2)- coming soon I hope….
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Heidi Vanlandingham!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Depending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This turned out to be a really good read! It was interesting (once the pace picked up and the timing got sorted out) and enthralling and kept me reading wanting to find out what happens next! As I mentioned briefly above, my only complaint is the timing. It didn’t feel like there was a clear pace, they just seemed to jump back and forth and the dialogue seemed slightly stilted to me. It seemed to even up about halfway through (or maybe I just got used to it) and I barely noticed it but it did take me awhile to get into the story because of that. Overall this was a very interesting read and had me on the edge of my seat! I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future!
Weep, Woman, Weep by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Amazing!
I absolutely loved this book! I love the telling of La Llorona and it was just awesome how it was written here. Mercy is incredible and I really liked her character. She is so brave and strong. This is my first book by this author but I will definitely need to check out more. I love all things witchy and gothic so it seems I would like all of her work!
Doctor in the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the 3rd book in the Welcome to Bunya Junction Series. The series is fun to read, the characters are well written and I love that each book concentrates on a couple so you really get to know many of the characters well. This book is about Scott and Franceen. Scott is the very busy and gorgeous CEO and doctor at the hospital and Franceen is the somewhat new Obgyn who moved to work at the rural hospital. Franceen is running from a bad experience with marriage and losing a child. She tries her best to keep everyone at arms length. However, it’s very evident that both Scott and Franceen are attracted to each other.
This book, like the others in the series, kept my attention and I had a hard time stopping to sleep. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Unchecked by Carina Alyce
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story is full of so many twists and turns that I simply couldn’t put it down, in certain areas you never know what our author is going to throw at you. From hospital drama, drama, steam, and cliffhangers you’ll never see what’s coming next. But that’s not all this author has such a unique way of writing that they not only give us several wow factors but they also give us an incredible level of spice. But when Stella decides she wants to settle down will she be able to figure out who is best for her? You’ll have to read this fabulous book to figure out for yourself.
My Valentine’s Day Cookie Match: Welcome to Cupids Cove by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lara runs the bakery in small town Cupid Cove. The local radio station is announcing new things coming in their small town….when Lara finds out what is coming, she is not happy. There is a new bakery coming to town, that comes with its own love matching app. The more you buy, the better match you will have. Graham is behind this bakery/matching app and is excited to start a new chapter in his own life. He is taking a big chance making these decisions, quitting his dependable job, leaving his home, and losing a girlfriend. Will this bring him the freedom he is looking for? The chemistry between Lara and Graham is great, they are so competitive and both in it to win.
I love the radio commentary in between scenes, it really added something extra for me. This was a sweet small town romance with a head strong heroine. My favorite kind of story.
Doctor in the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the third book in the Welcome to Bunya Junction series, but it can be read as a standalone. I don’t know how the author does it, but these books keep getting better and better.
Scott is a doctor who is busy running the hospital in Waratah River and trying to set up a foundation to help others in the medical field.
Franceen is a doctor who specializes in women’s health. She moved to Bunya Junction to work at Waratah hospital and get a fresh start at life after losing a child and her divorce.
Scott and Franceen try to fight their feelings for one another, since they both want different things in life, but the more they work together and spend time together makes it impossible.
Runaway to the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Let me start by saying the cover of this book is stunning! This is the second book of the Welcome to Bunya Junction series, but can be read as a standalone. I loved this book.
Pandora is an overworked model who runs away (in the middle of a photo shoot) to take a break from her demanding career.
Jonas runs the pub in Bunya Junction. When a woman comes bursting into his pub wearing a wedding dress he’s thrown for loop.
Pandora wants to stay hidden away in Bunya Junction, but knows she must face the consequences of her actions and get back to her life.
Read this book! This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to see what happens in Bunya Junction next.
Depending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Cate and Patti have been best friends since childhood. They went through everything together. All of their past memories have included each other, both the good AND the bad. Twenty years later, the two are still friends but they have drifted apart until the past gets dredged up causing Patti to come back to their childhood town to deal with it.
Twenty years ago, Cate killed a man. They thought she got away with it but it is what also caused the girls to drift apart. Turns out the case is being reopened and Cate is scared that she will be caught this time around. It turns out that Cate isn’t the only one with secrets in this town. Around every corner something else happens to test the friendship of both Cate and Patti.
Both characters were loveable in their own ways. Patti is a strong woman who takes care of everyone else which causes her to be independent and take everything on herself. Cate is an anxious mess, well that’s what she sees herself as, in reality she is just tired and scared from the traumatic life she led.
This book was a really interesting read. I can usually guess a lot of times what is going to happen. Turns out I was right but then a twist appears making me only a little right. The twist and turns of this book had me on the edge of my seat trying to guess what else is going to happen.
Home to the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a new author to me, but I’m so glad I found her. This is the first book in the Welcome to Bunya Junction series, but can be read as a standalone. This book is so beautifully written.
Sindy moved home several years ago after a bad relationship. She started working at a small doctors office with Colin. She slowly gets her self confidence back and is doing better.
Ryan (a well known plastic surgeon) goes home to say goodbye and pay his last respects to the man who raised him (Colin). After Colin’s passing his medical practice is left to both Sindy and Ryan. Sindy believes Ryan won’t stay in their small town of Bunya Junction and will go back to the city.
They start to develop feelings for each other, but being that they’re business partners until Ryan decides if he’s going to leave (and Sindy is Ryan’s good friends twin sister) a relationship may not be a good idea.
The Ghastly Gumball by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Ghastly Gumball is a fun, eccentric read. I had enjoyed this author’s books before, which did not disappoint. It is a short, exciting read delving into an imaginative mind. I don’t want to give away anything from the plot, but you have to meet Clyde, the octopus. The characters are entertaining, and the story is fast-paced. I enjoyed this bit of laughter, magic, and romance. I can’t wait to read this author’s next book.
(Un)Loved by Katy Hunter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is book one in the Mixed Emotions Series, and it can be read as a standalone. Sophie is an actress who has fallen in love with her co-star Gil. They start dating even though Gil has commitment issues. Sophie decides to take a break from acting and publicity and go home with Gil to his parents farm in the mountains. While there Sophie finds herself and is ready to make some major changes in her life, even if that means leaving Gil behind. This was a lovey story of a woman finding herself and not giving up on making herself happy, with or without the guy.
Doctor D’s Orderly Affair by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Main points: Enjoyable characters. Good story line. A little bit of steam.
This book is a quick read. I enjoyed that there was a good amount of story line balanced with the romance. One thing I will say is that if you are a reader who doesn’t want the pandemic mentioned in a book you are using to escape, this one might not be the book for you. It doesn’t overpower the story, but it is mentioned.
For some reason, I had a difficult time with the feel of the first chapter and struggled to get into the story, but it smoothed out in chapter two. I can’t pinpoint what exactly the challenge was for me, but I pushed through it, and it was worth it.
(Un)Loved by Katy Hunter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is the first book in a new series and also the first book I have read by Katy Hunter. It is a sweet romance story that flows nicely but it is just that a sweet romance, theres no steaminess whoch i love in a book. Its about a couple who take a break to work on themselves to then see if they should end up back together happily ever after or go their separate ways.
Doctor in the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Doctor in the Outback was a great story! I loved the strength of Franceen, she has such an amazing soul. The dance between her and Scott throughout the book is so cute and I just love the relationship they have. This is the first book I have read by this author but I can’t wait to read more. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a cute romance with a touch of hardships thrown in.
The Ghastly Gumball by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was such a great read! I’ve never read anything from this author, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but had high hopes because of the synopsis. I was not disappointed! Lock is hilarious, from his perspective and mental voice to how he deals with his new reality, I loved him. The magic in the book is so wonderfully introduced and fantastical that, for a little while, I was utterly speechless. This story took me on an unexpected kind of adventure that kept me transfixed and allowed my imagination to run wild. I loved the pace of everything, though the book was short, it felt just right.
Doctor in the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the third book in a series that I have loved so far. I have been looking forward to the third sibling Scott getting his own story and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
I have now read several books by this author and I really like her writing style. This story flows really well and keeps you engaged throughout. As I’d been eagerly awaiting Scott’s story, I was hooked immediately and totally engrossed in his story.
I loved the dynamic between Scott and Franceen. Both are skipping around the other, convinced that the other doesn’t have the same feelings, both scared to make that first move. Both have issues from the past that make having a relationship a bit harder for them but these two are meant to be together.
I also loved that we got to see a bit of Ryan and Sindy again as they become a proper little family with the addition of their twins.
This has been a fantastic series. Each book can be read as a standalone but if you are going to read the series then they should be read in order, for continuity and to avoid spoilers.
I already have book 4 waiting for me on my kindle and I’m so looking forward to reading the story of the 4th sibling.
Doctor in the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh, what a sweet story! Characters face the realities of living in the Australian Outback- a rural area lacking some modern amenities we all seem to take for granted. Topics unique to rural medical care are explored. The bond between adult fraternal twins is visited. The main characters must both face and overcome past betrayals, and take a chance on each other, as well as love. This is a stand-alone story, but also part of a series centering around four adult siblings.
Love’s Full Circle by Cherry Christensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a beautiful story! Yes, the beginning had a rough start for Liam and Kayden. Fifteen years later, they are reunited by a radio show. They have a lot of past hurts to work through. Can they do it? Oh, nice try but I’m not to going to give it away. You’ll have to read it and find out. The story is beautifully written. I am partially to the story because I’m from Denver and love trying to figure out all the places mentioned. I do want to know what a Colorado Crushie is. 🙂 The characters are so relatable because they feel real. They feel like they could be your friends. The issues are real. The descriptions are spot on. The plot is so very smooth. There is no chop going from spot to spot. Well written and very well-done. I would give it more than a 5 if I could. Another best of 2022.
Journeys Through AllCreation by James Talisman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Thrilling five-star read. This is number three in the Journeys Through series and this is possibly the best of the series, I adored that we had the recurring characters that you could keep you with, and catch up with them like old friends, but then new characters were brought in and they added to the story in a way that made you want to know more about them instantly, It was such great character development and that added to the whole story. The characters development was done well, but honestly it was the world development of the whole thing series that is what has won me over all-round. This whole series has been so much fun to read, and I am so excited to see what they will come up with next.
Review by @saraoxo
Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Having not read anything by this author before, I was quite excited to start down this new path of authors to be discovered when I happened upon this series. Let me tell you, she did not disappoint at all. I am very glad that I read the first installment, however, new characters are introduced, and character building continues throughout these novels as the adventures rage on. To me, it appears that there are lots of lessons to be learned through the main character, Van’s explorations and missions, not only for her, but for the reader as well, and it was mind-boggling, to say the least, how this author has us digging deeper into our own self while on the edge of our seats waiting to see what happens next.
There was a lot more action in this installment, for sure, yet we still have time for more romantic connections to be made. Not only that, but Brux remains a great character and protector of Van, and along with Paley, would do anything to help Van navigate the ups and downs that come with being a young Anchoress. Getting to explore more of their world was so much fun, and I can say that I won’t stop now, and can openly admit that this is one series that I will be reading over, and over again as new installments are added. Onto the next adventure! Highly recommend!
Checking Boxes by Magdoline Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I was definitely sucked in.
Grace and Ian meet by chance. She agrees to stay with him when she’s in need of a place and in return she just has to cook for him. She doesn’t know how to take him. He’s got and cold but slowly but surely he starts checking off all of her boxes. The only problem – Ian has a secret and he is determined to keep it that way. What does the future hold for these two? Will Ian’s secret tear everything apart?
I couldn’t put this book down! It’s so well written and I really enjoyed the characters. I couldn’t get enough!
Helm of Awe by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really hope I don’t have to wait long for the next installment to come out, I haven’t been able to think about much else other than this series and Van’s world since I started reading about them last month. One of the things I love most about this series is that you never really know what’s coming next. It appears Van and her crew have sorted things out, both with their internal and external/physical struggles, and the next thing you know, there is more! Not overwhelmingly so, but the perfect amount to keep this reader on the edge of her seat. My favourite quote from this novel (without ruining anything) should be taken into consideration by all, in my opinion: “Anger incites ego. Without control of your anger, any move is premature and will bring disaster. Anger is not a source of power.”
In this third installment, we spend a lot of time out of the groups comforts of home, or their territory, and Van quickly realizes that she is not always going to be the strongest, smartest, or most clever, and that that is okay. I love how these novels build on the idea that teamwork makes the dream work and that first impressions aren’t always the end all be all. A job well done by this author, once again, and I will be refreshing all my sources in hopes that the next adventure comes sooner rather than later. Highly recommend!
Depending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Fantastic four-star read. I really enjoyed this story and was so close to giving it five-stars but there was just something that stopped me, it was just something I couldn’t put my finger on. This story sucks you in, it makes you wonder and worry, each piece adds another layer to the story, the history these characters have will drag you in and you will be feeling the past, it’s a great journey that will keep you guessing all the way through. Cate Silver and Pattie Thomas will leave you wondering, as they have kept secrets and so many more than you first realise. This one will keep you guessing and have you wondering all the way through.
Review by @saraoxo