Murder a la Christie by Marilyn Levinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fantastic mystery, and it features a book club! The book club meetings are plagued by tragic events. There is the possibility of a budding romance or two in the background. The main character must learn to separate logic from emotion. If she solves the case, is it a price worth paying?
Loris Opens Up His Heart: An Emotional Story For Kids by Dagmara Sitek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loris is a foster child who is not sure who to trust, and prefers to stay to himself. When he comes to live with Cam, Inaya, and their mother, he struggles to adjust to a home life that is so different from the bad home life he is used to. Cam and Inaya try to involve Loris in the fundraiser run that they are organizing for a friend, but he doesn’t feel safe joining in until Cam is being bullied, and then he stands up for his new foster siblings. This book may not have the “warm fuzzies” from the beginning, but by the end, you will find yourself feeling for Loris and his journey. This is a great book for young kids, and for teaching children about foster children situations and the emotions that can come from it. I feel like this is also a good way to help people of any age to remember that you don’t know the full story of someone’s life, so being kind and being there for them, and not leaving them in their time of struggle, is often the most help you can give them.
Unrequited Love by E.L. Roux
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Unrequited Love is Book 1 in the Magic and Heartache series and I really enjoyed this story of Jorden and Cane. This fantasy romance gave me what I love with magic, charms, a little bit of drama and romance. The connection between Jorden and Cane is truly undeniable. While this was more of a short story….I am already looking forward to reading the next book and would love to know the characters even more…I am already intrigued.
Jorden runs a local coffee shop with her friend Perri, but unfortunately Jorden’s ex always has to make it a point to continue to be a customer with his new girlfriend. Jorden is over her past, knowing her ex was no longer in love with her….Cane peaks her interest. With the banter and definite spark between them, what can happen when Cane approaches Jorden to partake in a spell that forsee’s the future… spark and sizzle happens….
This is a great story and looking forward to more from this author. <3
The Big Book of Booper Snoots by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is one of the cutest alphabet books I’ve seen. Not only are we met with the most adorable boopable snoots (that you most definitely can boop on each page), we are given a plethora of information about each animal. I loved the colorfulness of the book along with the realness of it. Lynn packed in so much information for each animal but don’t let that overwhelm you. You could easily skip over that information for younger readers/listeners while the older readers/listeners can definitely learn from the amount of information she includes. This is a must have for animal lovers.
Reviewed by @meggs1717
A Cold Day in Hell by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hadassah is a fallen angel who’s awaiting sentencing on earth for the crime of helping her brother save a demon. The relationship between her brother’s new family and her is strained, to say the least, so Haddie tries to build some kind of kinship with Jezebel, a friend of her brother’s and someone Haddie believes will reject Haddie. This plan backfires as Haddie is drawn into finding a kidnapped Jezebel. This book is the fifth installment in a series, though each is about stories of different couples in the same universe. Full of supernatural fantasy, mystery, drama, and romance, it really does feel like this book has it all!
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210594018-five-tries-to-get-it-right” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Five Tries to Get It Right” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1711939651l/210594018._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210594018-five-tries-to-get-it-right”>Five Tries to Get It Right</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/36094489.Kathryn_Dodson”>Kathryn Dodson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6544870859″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Kate and Lydia have been best friends since grade school. Lydia is now a widow, has a grown daughter and was a school teacher for many years. Kate had a successful business, and now divorced. Lydia received a call one day that Kate was in the hospital. The two best friends travel the world together. Lydia wants Kate to live. They have their ups and downs through out the trip. But it makes their friendship so strong. I was rooting for Kate to live through the whole book! Lydia and Kate are a powerful team going through everything life has thrown at them.
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6813301-tori”>View all my reviews</a>
The Book of Fears: A Collection of Short Stories by K.S. Gantt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fantastic collection of short, psychologically thrilling stories. There are trigger warnings so definitely check those out before reading but like Gantt mentions none of the triggers are overtly discussed; however, they may bring up some feelings because of this. While I wouldn’t classify these stories as “scary” (I grew up on Stephen King and watching scary movies as a young child…many thanks to my aunt), they are very disturbing in a make-you-uncomfortable way. I really enjoyed these very different but disturbing eight short stories and I think you will too. As I said before, please check the trigger warnings first, but if you love stories that will make you uncomfortable and make you feel things you wish you didn’t then pick up this collection today!
Reviewed by @meggs1717
Enthralling!
This is the first book I’ve read by N.D. Jackson and I could not put it down. I feel like I finished it in record time. This close proximity romance was not only cute but attention grabbing.
Shayna is a single mom doing everything she can for her kids after the mess with her ex. Burke is a man known for his resource and is quite frankly over that label. Shayna doesn’t see herself as worthy of Burke’s attention. Burke is drawn towards Shayna and seems to have a heart of gold wanting to do whatever he can to lighten the burden on Shayna.
A Patriot’s Tale by Nicole Pierman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The beginning was a little slow to start. It does pick up the pace after a few chapters. The author does well with the time period especially with Lily and the Turner family. The characters complement each other really well even with the minor characters. I like how Lily makes opportunities for herself even though they don’t end too well sometimes. The book is very well written and is easy to read and comprehend what’s going on in the story.
A Cold Day in Hell by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Cold Day in Hell by Naomi Valkyrie is the 5th installment in the Life Is Hell series. While Malaki’s family decides to hold up in Delilah’s house to protect each other from Danger, Malaki’s angelic sister Hadassah comes to stay. Forced to live on earth stripped of her powers as punishment she makes an unlikely friend (maybe more) in Jezebel. Jezebel has a secret that she’s running from. But the past is catching up. Can Hadassah and the rest of the team save Jezebel?
Super excited for this book. Jezebel was so mysterious and I wanted to learn more about her. Seems like all the characters have a traumatic backstory. I’m so glad they are all healing, finding love and learning to trust others again. They are creating the family they didn’t have and it’s a beautiful thing. This series is full of love despite the issues that arise. This is my favorite story in the series so far. I really like Jezebel. If you liked the other parts you’ll love this one too. If you’re new to the series, start at the beginning so you understand the relationships and connections.
Second Glance by A.E. Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
Second Glance is the fourth book in The Serrulata Saga series and a LGBT Fantasy tale. A MM historical romance. Even though it is part of The Serrulata Saga series it can be read as a standalone. It is my favourite in the series.
This is a high heat forbidden romance tale where constructs of time believe that same sex relationships is taboo. To do so is to bring ruin to yourself and family. But falling in love does not discriminate.
The heat is turned way up in this tale as they fall in love at first sight. Can they maintain their relationship and hide who they truly are from societal values in the Realm, or will they be exposed and ruin everything they have.
Strong emotions are evoked and run high in this novella. There are a lot of twists and obstacles to navigate but you find yourself rooting for this couple who just want to love each other.
Reviewed by @jennadb
The Big Book of Booper Snoots by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The book features adorable animal noses that are “boopable” and fun to touch, and while designed to help children learn their alphabet while discovering educational animal facts, I enjoyed leafing through it as an adult- it was a fun and interactive way to learn about animals
A Patriot’s Tale by Nicole Pierman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 – 4 stars
War is ugly, war is raw, and war is deadly no matter who, where or when and Nicole spares no details. A Patriot’s Tale is Nicoles first novel and an award winning one at that. This historical fiction tale set in 1778 during the American Revolutionary War where a young woman, Lily is determined to fight she changes who she is to succeed at any cost.
Lily is headstrong and a patriot, but she is living with the trauma and grief of having lost her family and certainly suffers with mental health issues that comes with seeing the horrors of war. To her there is no question that the Red Coats be taken out and the Militia are the ones to join. She plays a deadly game one she intends to see the end of.
Other than a few pacing issues to start with but it soon picked up to the point I quite enjoyed this bloody tale.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Murder a la Christie by Marilyn Levinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
*Murder a la Christie” is a charming and engaging mystery that pays homage to the classic detective novels of Agatha Christie. The story follows Professor Lexie Driscoll, a warm and intelligent protagonist, as she navigates a complex web of secrets and lies to uncover the truth behind a series of murders.
The plot is clever and well-structured, with a steady stream of clues and red herrings that kept me guessing until the very end. The author’s writing style is engaging and accessible, making it easy to become invested in the characters and their stories.
The supporting cast is also well-developed, with a range of intriguing characters that add depth and complexity to the story. The setting, a swanky mansion in the 1980s, adds a touch of glamour and sophistication to the proceedings.
The Handshake Agreement by A. Akinosho
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
The Handshake Agreement is an age gap, second chance romance tale that will have your emotions all over the place. I wasn’t sure how to rate this one as I had mixed emotions about the MCC. He strutted around like he was top dog and not a care with women. He is possessive and defiant but still has to abide by the agreement he made with his father earlier in his adult life? He breaks her heart leaving her at the altar then demands she is hers. I just wanted to slap him all the time which took my focus away from the story.
Anne is younger than him and he promises her the world than leaves her broken hearted. Now after years of heartbreak she has found a wonderful man, only for Declan to show up again and demand she is his. After all this time she moves on, and he threatens to take it all away from her.
If you like second chance romance give it a go you may love it.
Reviewed by @jennadb
The Big Book of Booper Snoots by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Consider me to be a big Booper Snooter. I have my whole life as I grew up on a farm and have own many animals, lizards, fish, turtles, Kangaroos, Wallabies, birds and much more.
So, when I saw Suzanna Lynn’s The Big Book of Booper Snoots and realised what it was all about I had to grab it and read it to my grandboys which they thoroughly enjoyed.
This delightful children’s picture book is educational, full of fun facts and is informative and imaginative. The wonderful illustrations are creative and bright and colourful. Little animal enthusiasts will love this adventure book.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Murder a la Christie by Marilyn Levinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Are you an Agatha Christie lover? Well, Murder a la Christie is the first fun book in the Golden Age of Mystery Bookclub that incorporates many of Christie’s ways. Given that the book club loves Christie this is not surprising.
When a simple babysitting job turns into a veritable modern day “Whodunnit” Lexie their industrious leader and Miss Marple amateur sleuth takes it upon herself to follow up each and every clue and suspects that includes her bestie. The book club members are dropping. What she thought was a nice quiet town shows her that there is more than a few dirty secrets hidden within.
There is a cast of many eclectic characters and a complex multilayered web of puzzles our MC has to wade through to find the killer. This fast-paced tale is full of mystery, drama, politics, twists, secrets and danger which keeps the pages turning.
Reviewed by @jennadb
The Ghostly Diva by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Ghostly Diva is Book Three in the Divine Vintage Series. It is cozy, romantic mystery with paranormal elements, secrets, suspense, intrigue, and family dynamics. Justine is an Assistant Director at the local museum who has been asked by Jackson to look at some clothing that belonged to his late mother who was an actress. Jackson is a screenwriter and is anxious to get his late mother’s estate settled so he can get back to Hollywood. When a snowstorm hits Justine and Jackson get trapped together in the house which is less than ideal for either of them. Jackson’s deceased mother makes an appearance and Justine, who is a bit of a medium, finds herself trying to keep the peace between her and her son who have unresolved issues between them. Justine and Jackson discover there is chemistry between them, and Jackson’s mother decided to try to play matchmaker. With all of that going on, Justine finds herself trying to solve the mystery of who Jackson’s father is as this was a secret his mom guarded closely. A great story with wonderful characters and an intriguing storyline.
The Ghostly Diva by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Justine Saunders is a woman who has a passion for history and especially vintage fashion, she is the Assistant Museum Director for the small town museum she works at, but it is not a job whose future is set in stone, also, it just happens to be somewhere which also contains ghostly apparitions. Jackson Maddox is a young man with a mercurial personality who has had to return to the birthplace of his mother, a tiny town in the middle of nowhere to sort through her house and belongings, much to his annoyance.
One day, the museum receives a call from the son of a famous starlet from the area to help him clear out some of her clothing as a donation to the museum and the surly voice demands that it is carried out sooner rather than later and this is where Justine pulls the short straw and heads over to the house in question. However, when she arrives, the picture in her imagination does not match with the handsome man she sees before her, but she keeps her cool when the antagonistic man pushes her buttons while keeping her off balance, especially when she finds a box of letters.
When the appraisal draws to a close, Justine finds that she is snowed in and has to spend the night with Jackson, something neither of them are keen on, but after something to eat and a part bottle of whiskey, they decide to delve into the letters she found earlier and it turns out that they are a mystery Jackson is not sure he wants to solve, the mystery of his father, the one person he never knew the identity of. Meanwhile, much to Justine’s surprise, the lady in question, Jackson’s mothers ghost decides to throw in her two cents and simultaneously scares the life out of Justine.
Will Justine and Jackson be able to unravel the mystery of his father’s identity, stave off her ghostly friend and the spanners she throws in, all while deciding whether to pursue another job opportunity in the big city and trying to deny the sparks between the two? This is a romance with a historical and spirited twist, which will keep you hooked as this emotional game of tug of war plays out.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
A Cold Day in Hell by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Cold Day in Hell is Book Five in the Life is Hell Series. It is a frenemies to lovers, FF paranormal romance with shifters, angels, pixies, mystery, danger, drama, suspense, secrets, and witty banter. This story focus on Hadassah, an angel, and Jezebel, a shifter. Hadassah is on suspended duty and has been banished to Juniper Lake for misusing her powers. Jezebel likes to keep to herself and finds solitude in the woods running free in her dog form. The two form an unlikely friendship and soon learn to confide in one another. When Jezebel’s past catches up with her Hadassah will stop at nothing to keep her safe. Jezebel’s past is truly heartbreaking, and we learn why she seems abrasive and prefers to be alone. Hadassah’s character seems spoiled and selfish at first but there is more to her than what she shows on the surface. The two learn to rely on one another and become close as they spend more time together leading to friendship and romance. Another great book in this amazing series!
The Ghostly Diva by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the 3rd book in the Divine Vintage series.
This was another enjoyable read by this author. This story is a wonderful mix of paranormal, romance, mystery, family secrets and forced proximity.
Justine has a big decision to make with regards to the job she loves. With funding being cut she looks for employment elsewhere and is surprised when she is invited for an interview but if she gets this job it would mean leaving her small town, the job she knows and loves and starting somewhere new.
With all this emotional turmoil happening the last thing she needs is a handsome grumpy guy and the ghost of his mother walking into her life but that’s exactly what she gets.
When Jackson’s mother dies he contact the museum to see if they would like any of her clothes. As a star of the screen he thought there maybe something they would like.
When Justine turns up at the house he is surprised and can’t help but be a little captivated by her passion for fashion from the past. As they look through the clothes of his mother and grandmother they also find a box of letters and when they realised they are snowed in together this is when they decide to solve the mystery of Jackson’s Family secret.
Who was Jackson’s father? With them being forced into each others company will they realise that they actually enjoy it? And what part will Jackson’s mum’s ghost play in the uncovering of the secret and the blossoming connection between the couple?
Perfect by Tricia Copeland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a different read and at times it reminded me a little of Lane Kim from the Gilmore Girls , she came from a conservative , strict Christian Korean home but a real sweetheart 🥰😉
Chloe has firm ideas and she works hard and has dreams of becoming the next best thing in the fashion world and while at college she dated her boyfriend long distance and then he proposes as she starts dating a hunk a chunk basket player Sheez this girl has her hands full ….
Then she gets the opportunity of a lifetime , every potential , next best thing in designing dreams of ….she gets to go to Paris on a scholarship ! Now she’s learning about fashion in the fashion capital and then she meets Chase and my heart starts beating a little faster but our girl gets itchy feet and heads to New York and this girl makes me so proud she makes a huge success of herself and what an inspiration she is 🥰
Then , literally by accident she meets someone and I think she’s hit the HEA jackpot but has she !? 🤣🤭😉
A light hearted , fun and easy read
Just Ducky by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was an interesting twist to the normal shaft shifters that you read about. This one was about a girl; Ducky could shift to a duck. Ducky feels like an outside, she has no friends and didn’t grow up in the greatest of homes. War for so long with the humans and the paranormal, but is there any way that maybe they can solve this and stop it all? and can Ducky help in anyway, she becomes friends with the prince, but can she save him? This story captivating from the beginning, it was so much in such a short read, well that it felt like. I can’t wait for the next book, the way this one ended don’t skip this book, you’ll want to read them in order.
Dinopotamus Goes to School by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book, my favorite part has to be the art. I love that it looks like someone drew and colored the book, such a fun concept. Dinopotamus is so cute and sweet, he wants to be like the other children, he wants to be involved. I appreciate the teacher including Dino in the lesson and even reassuring him that he did have 3 toes instead of 5 like the others and that is okay. All around a cute book.
Ghost Talker by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ghost Talker is the first book in the Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries series. I actually started with book 2, Delicious Death, because I was drawn to a paranormal mystery that centres around dessert! Ghost Talker has less dessert (although there are some tasty treats!) but the characters, setting and intriguing plot mean it’s still an enjoyable book!
This is a Gaslamp Fantasy, set in a fictional world that’s based in part on the late Victorian/early Edwardian times. Elinor, Madame Chalamet, can communicate with ghosts and uses her skills to help people with a variety of situations including solving mysteries, coping with grief and addressing hauntings. While her work is appreciated by her clients, the proliferation of phony ghost talkers means that many are skeptical about what she does.
There are lots of mysteries to solve in Ghost Talker. Supernatural elements and court intrigue play a part, as well as normal human emotions and motivations. The darker elements are balanced by cheerful moments between friendly characters, such as Anne-Marie and Jacques, and descriptions of things like food and costume.
This book gets five stars from me! I’d recommend the series to fans of fantasy mysteries. If you haven’t read any gaslamp fantasy you should give it a try!
Under Jackson Bridge: A thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This Amazing author simply never disappoints! This is yet another fantastic book that will keep you turning page after page. I literally could not put it down!! When a group of friends go out on a boat together to celebrate something, Irena’s ex-husband is swept overboard and goes missing. As the search goes on to find him clues keep making her question if he is dead or simply escaping. Your search to find those answers will have you captivated!
The Big Book of Booper Snoots by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I don’t think I’ve chuckled so much. You hear this term on some animal videos on social media. I love how the author uses it for an A-B-C of animals book. Terrific choice of animals. The descriptions are of unique characteristics. There is usually a weird fact. This is neat because even as an older person, I’m learning new facts reading this. Wonderful pictures. You even get to learn what it’s called when there is a group of the animals together. Check this book out. Another fun and educational one from this author that I’ll be adding to our family library. It’ll be a cool resource for projects that may come up.
Toasted by Isobel Reed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
To put it simply Zach and Libby had me laughing out loud, feeling good and wanting more! This Amazing author created such wonderful characters they just weaved their way straight into my heart right from the start and I just knew there was fun times ahead. You truly do need to read this fabulous start to what I just know is going to be an absolutely fantastic series! I know I can’t wait for more.
Italian American: Jack & Mariella’s journey continues… by Luigina Vecchione
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this story, which is a sequel about the two main characters after they get married and move to America and the new life they build there after the war. I didn’t feel like I needed to read the previous book but I possibly would have enjoyed this book more because I would have been invested in then already. I enjoyed the storyline but I wanted more from Mariella’s relationship with her mother-in-law. Overall, I would recommend this story.
Troy by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story sets up the trilogy nicely if you haven’t already read it. If you have, it has added a nice bonus read to the series. After having read the series, I must admit I was very happy to see a prelude! Any addition to this series is great. You could potentially read this as a stand alone, but I don’t recommend it. Simply because the series is so good.
As you can tell by the title, this book is about Troy and his back story. How he became the man he is within the series. Another well written book with great world building.
