Master of the Abyss by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the third book in the Painted Souls series. Samborn has exceptional storytelling and deep knowledge of historical periods and locations. He weaves a tale that is both unusual and realistic. This is a fasted paced story that has you travelling all over the globe.
Alien Redemption by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I wasn’t sure if I would like this book when I first started reading it. But soon enough I found a new Sci-fi book that I ended up really enjoying. The author does a wonderful job of world and character building. I was able to connect with Claudia, who is trying to find a way to get past a mistake, but finds herself in a difficult situation. Once she discovers that her Captain has plans for the new species that is found on a planet, Claudia tries her best to help the new species.
I am happy to have found this story by Gloria Oliver. I’m looking forward to reading more stories by this author.
Recipe For Revenge: An Unputdownable Small Town Cozy Murder Mystery by Hazel Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
April lost her father when she was young and never had a relationship with him. Now that she is in Laurel Lake she begins to learn things about his death that do not seem to make sense. April misses the big city but is finding herself enjoying her time in the small town. I loved these characters and was hooked from the beginning of the book. I need to read more about April and her friends.
A Heart So Savage by April Moran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the second book in the series and it’s amazing!! It picks up where book 1 left off. In the second installment we get more of Kingston’s pov and inner dialogue that helps explain his sometimes over the top actions over Ava. Ava’s problematic brother comes in as well again and it’s possible Ms. Moran has redeemed him enough to give him his own book in the future. This is the end of this particular set but again, maybe she’ll give us some more in the future!!
A King So Savage by April Moran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first book to the Savage Duet books and it is great. Ava is kidnapped by Kingston due to a debt that her brother owes. The problem is everyone around wants her too. This is a dark romance full of a jealous alpha and feisty woman. This does end in a cliffhanger but the second book is already out so no wait!!
Tropic Heat by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I always love getting to check out stories by this author; this was such a fun and quick read! I thought the friendship between our main character Daniel and his best man Joey was absolutely delightful and extremely hilarious. I thought Joey was a great influence in getting Daniel to break out of his comfort zone, giving him the opportunity to meet Sara. After a one night stand, they have to decide what they want things to look like for their future. Was this a one-time thing, or could it be more? As always there are some twists and turns and a bit of drama until we reach the end. I really enjoyed all of the different characters and I thought the author did a great job of making me really care about what was going to happen to them.
The Alien & the Crime Boss by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Alien & the Crime Boss is a short sci-fi romance featuring, as the title suggests, an alien and a crime boss. Leilphun has fled his home world to Earth, a planet he knows only through stories. He is immediately taken prisoner by Kasper, who is untrusting due to the multiple crime families who want him dead.
I like how Leilphun and Kasper warm to each other over the course of the story and learn to trust. It’s also fun to see Leilphun experiencing Earth for the first time and learning how to fit in. While the shorter format makes this a great book to read in one sitting, I’d have enjoyed more time both for the development of Leilphun and Kasper’s relationship and to see Leilphun exploring human life.
I’ve enjoyed many books by this author before and this will appeal to fans. I like the originality of her characters and the scenarios they find themselves in. It’s also always great to come across LGBTQ+ characters in genre fiction!
This book gets four stars from me. If you’re at all intrigued by the title, give it a read! It’s such a short read you’ll be able to satisfy your curiosity as well as getting a taste for the author’s style.
Alien Redemption by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Claudia Zimmerman is a former medical researcher who was blamed by her employers in a very public arena. She is now blacklisted amongst both her peers and, well…everyone else, too. Her funds are running low, she’s feeling desperate, and she doesn’t know what else to do besides become someone else. So, Claudia becomes Aya and applies for a medical job aboard a merchant vessel. She expects to get the job without trouble, and is shocked to find the captain of the vessel recognizes her and blackmails her into joining the crew.
Captain Bennet assigns her to the medical bay of his dilapidated ship, and she tries to stay out of his way as his temper and behavior is absolutely atrocious – a cruel and dangerous man. He punishes crew members on a whim. Before she knows it, Claudia is assigned to an mission aboard an uncharted planet where they discover an intelligent avian species. She is excited to work with them and then discovers that Captain Bennet has plans to utilize the new species as servants, and Claudia has seen up close and personal just how he treats those around him. She can’t stand the idea of the Avians being subjected to his brutal abuse and desires to save them, even though it will bring her the attention she’s been trying hard to avoid.
There is assault in this book, and a lot of terrible treatment. Some people are likely sensitive to some of the things described. SciFi novels aren’t usually my “thing”, and it was difficult to get through the assault, but this book did draw me in and have me rooting for Claudia. I was often on the edge of my seat and bouncing between emotions. Will Claudia keep herself and the Avians safe, or will Captain Bennet beat his way to the top?
A Heart So Savage by April Moran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kingston and Ava have returned shortly after the events at the end of book 1. Ava continues to fall further into her confusion over her feelings for King. In his own way, he protects her – while he keeps her captive. There’s no doubt his “punishments” have taught her some things about her desires and her body. He breaks and rebuilds her time and again, yet she still yearns for freedom. Maybe not freedom from him, but freedom to at least make her own decisions once in awhile. Would she abandon Kingston if given the right opportunity? He has handled some threats against her and is working to solve some more, while keeping her locked up. If he has to handle extra danger to protect Ava and keep her safe, then so be it. But as much as he makes dark decisions, her safety is his main priority.
As you see some seriously terrible decisions being made here, you also get to learn about what King and Oliver had to endure as kids, and what a terrorist their father was within their own homes. It’s no wonder they don’t do better – they were never shown better, and the abuse they suffered changed them as people. Their father was the REAL monster, terrorizing his wives and children. We also learn throughout the book how King feels about Ava, and battling the actual love he holds for her – until she is seriously injured and King feels the terror of what his life would be like without her. What way will Ava’s decision go – is she going to accept King’s way and admit her desires, or is she going to get out? Will the Winter family be able to protect her from all of the dangers in her path?
Mission Improbable: Vietnam by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mission Improbable: Vietnam (A Blanche Murninghan Mystery) by Nancy Nau Sullivan. This has quickly become one of my favorite series. Blanche gets talked into going to Vietnam to help Jean McMahon find her mother. Jean found out her bio mom lives in Vietnam and her father who was an American Solider raised her in the States. Blanche is not excited about going until she realizes she can use this trip to learn more about her father who was also a solider and perished in the war. As soon as they arrive in Vietnam they quickly discover a lot of people would rather the past remain in the past forever. Hitting all kinds of road blocks Blanche begins to wonder if she will discover anything about either of these people. Blanche being Blanche she won’t give up easily and she will find out the truth. The writer wrote this story with such amazing vision I felt as if I were really in Vietnam. I also loved the friendship Blanche and Jean formed over looking for their parents. This has become a favorite series of mine. Can’t wait for the next book!
A King So Savage by April Moran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When Ava Blue was a sophomore in college, her parents died and left her and her brother Carson as orphans. Their parents were very wealthy and left them a hefty inheritance with multiple protectives put in place by their lawyer father to protect them from the impulsive decisions of youth. What they didn’t consider, though – was Carson’s hatred and mistreatment of Ava and dedication to blowing through every cent he could get his hands on. While he was living large, Ava paid only for bare necessities and saved her allowance from the inheritance and stowed it away.
We open the story with Ava coming to after being drugged and kidnapped by the men of Kingston Winter, the head of the Winter family brought up under his absolute tyrant of a father – until his stepmother shot him and then herself. Since then, Kingston has accepted the role of leader of the family, continued to amass massive fortunes, made decisions he didn’t want to but had to, and has wanted Ava Blue since he first set eyes on her as a teenager. Now, Carson has blown through a fortune, borrowed money from anyone willing to loan it, and owes the Winter family to the tune of 2.6 MILLION dollars. He kidnapped Ava as an excuse, hoping Carson doesn’t pay. Regardless, now that Ava is in his possession, he doesn’t intend to let her go.
There’s a lot happening in this book, and I’m constantly cheering on Ava as she taps into her inner wildcat. King is a man used to getting what he wants, no matter the consequences. In many instances, it is against the wishes of someone else and the situation with Ava is no different. Kingston is a gorgeous man, but absolutely brutal – he has no problem taking whatever he desires regardless of other peoples feelings about it, and he treats Ava no differently. In spite of his brutality, Ava is completely drawn to him and disgusted by him and his proposition. While he pretends to consider selling Ava and her virginity to recoup Carson’s debt to him, the reality is that he claimed her long ago. Will Ava resist her attraction and get away, or will King keep her?
Tropic Heat by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This enjoyable, fun romantic comedy kept me happily turning the pages, and had me wishing I had a ticket to the Flamingo Island Resort! Jilted groom Daniel and his best mate Joey decide to go on honeymoon together, and use the expensive, non-refundable tickets to the exclusive Flamingo Island Resort. Joey tries to convince Daniel that in order to get over being jilted he needs to have fun with another women. However, it’s not until he meets Sara that he starts to agree and have fun. Daniel and Joey are looking forward to a trip of a lifetime, but I don’t think they were expecting the trip they got! Although this is a fairly quick read as it’s a short novella, the storyline has plenty of drama, suspense, fun, and of course romance. I loved the characters and I really enjoyed this lighthearted and heartwarming romance which also had plenty of steamy scenes.
Tropic Heat by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I truly enjoy picking up books by this author! This was such a fun read about second chances. Daniel was ready to marry the love of his life, Claire, but she left him at the altar without any hint of what went wrong. Instead of waste the nonrefundable honeymoon tickets, his best friend suggested they go together and have a blast. He wasn’t expecting to hit it off with someone so quickly. I found the flow of the story had a few bumps here and there that made it harder to find my groove. If you’re looking for a quick romantic comedy to make you laugh, this is the next read for you!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Lost Property: A Tom Grant Novel by Samantha Adair
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Both Melody and Annika are wanted for the information that they know. With their handler dead, there is only one person they can trust and that is Tom. Tom, however, is out of the game… he’s done. Until…. he gets a call from James asking for help. Isabella is thrown into her past with the emergence of the two girls running from their “owner”. With agencies working hard to bring down the crime ring, can Operation Sweetpea finally be over? With leaks and betrayals at every turn, the race to end it all is proving to be costly.
I enjoyed reading the end of this series. There was so much going on and happening, but I was able to keep track of it all without feeling overwhelmed or lost. The author did a great job of tying up loose ends and wrapping up the storyline. The twists were perfect and kept me guessing. I was very pleased with end and how it all played out.
Tropic Heat by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this quick read. This author never fails to impress me. It is a steamy read with a twist I definately didn’t see coming but I loved.
Daniel was jilted at the alter. With his honeymoon being non refundable he decides to go with his best friend Joey. Surely it’s a good way to heal a broken heart, sun, drink and women.
At first Daniel wasn’t sure on the women part until he met Sara.
However Sara isn’t all she seems to be and when the runaway bride makes an appearance as well Daniel is left reeling as lies and deceit come to light in ways he never expected.
The question is was one night of passion enough for Daniel to forgive and move forward with Sara or would he want to forget it ever happened.
Tropic Heat by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Being left at the altar on his wedding day, Daniel and his best friend decide to use their honeymoon tickets anyways.
We meet Sara who is on a mission in more ways than one and sets her hungry eyes on Daniel.
With some quick twists and turns, the island feels like a really small world.
Easy afternoon read.
This seems like a fun series following different people and flamingo Island written by different authors.
Tropic Heat by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Tropic Heat is part of the Flamingo Island Series. It is a romantic comedy with love, loss, romance, humor, witty banter, hijinks, and chemistry. The story centers around the main character of Daniel who was left at the alter by his fiancée, Claire. He feels embarrassed that his family and friends have seen him jilted by the love of his life. Thankfully, he has his best friend Joey who suggests that the two of them take the honeymoon together and not waste the non-refundable tickets. Joey tells Daniel that the best way to leave behind the stress and embarrassment is to go and party, find some girls, and have fun. After drinking too much Daniel ends up in a one-night stand with a girl he meets named Sara. Sara is there to enjoy herself and is ready for change in her life. What neither Daniel nor Sara expect is to find their one-night stand turn into something more. A great read about fate and finding love at the most unexpected time. Love the characters and found my heart going out to Daniel for being left at the alter by the love of his life. I was hoping that he would find happiness and was pleased that he met Sara because she seemed like the perfect match for him. Love this author’s writing style and the humor throughout the book.
Tropic Heat by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Quick, but entertaining. My only wish is that there could have been a couple more chapters to really cement in the romance feel. However, from the way it ended, there may be more story coming.
I loved the turtle. If the story does continue, I hope they visit him again. And I’d love to learn more about Joey. I actually have hopes that things go a certain way with him.
Overall, great read!
Porter and Midge: Paws and Playtime: A Kid’s Guide to a Happy Dog by Giselle Nevada
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a fun and interactive story to read to your little ones. Teaching your family pet is always a grand idea. Reading about all the dog owners and their tricks was not only interesting but formative. I also loved the rhyming throughout the story. This is most definitely a book for all children, adults and their dogs. Helping to bring more love and attention to our beloved families. The story is easy to read as well as follow. The words and descriptions are so worth the read. This author is new to me. But that won’t stop me from getting more of her books. I look forward to seeing where we go next
Review@cinful
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1MF3FE8SVCFD9/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/121313439
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/4035970725
The Alien & the Crime Boss by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Kasper Kingston is a man on a mission and his mission is to destabilise the two main crime families and take over in their place, it is dangerous, but he has a determination to attain his goal and so he goes to a cabin in the woods so that he can watch and wait for his enemy’s destruction. Leilphun is an alien, but he will no longer be able to live on his own planet anymore, this is due to the rulers of his home planet wanting instead to punish him for his crime by throwing him into the fighting arena’s, but he has no intention of that happening and so he says goodbye to everything that he knows, undertakes an exhausting and jumps through a portal for a one way trip to Earth.
One morning Kasper sees a bright light flash outside the window and decides to go and investigate just in case it is one of the families, however when he gets there, he only finds an unconscious person with purple skin and he decides that he cannot just leave them out there in the woods and so he takes the mystery person home, ties them up and waits for them to wake up so that he can interrogate them. When Leilphun awakes after his journey to Earth, he realises that he is in a dwelling and is being restrained to a chair, the most alluring thing is the man who is sitting in front of him, however, he is less than impressed with his being questioned the minute he wakes up, but especially when his answers are not believed.
That even Kasper makes the decision to allow Leilphun to sleep next to him so that he can tell whether he tries to escape, but this is when he is attacked by the families and Leilphun surprisingly helps him to escape, later revealing that it is because they are now betrothed according to Leilphun’s people’s customs, it also confirms his story that he really isn’t from this planet and that he really didn’t need the weapons he brought with him. Will Kasper be able to maintain the distance he needs so as not to become too distracted by the handsome alien, or will Leilphun become more than just a weapon to help destroy the families while keeping himself safe? This is a novella with heart, as well as danger, retaliation and redemption which will catch you in its net and not let you go until the end.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
Nessie and the Living Stone by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Yet again, we have picked up a book by this author and been transported away to an imaginative, fun and creative world that the whole family engages with. We had recently been away to Scotland so this book not only allowed us to teach our kids about a well known myth, but it also allowed us to revisit the memories we had made.
The images captured the kids attention easily and we spent just as much time looking at them as we did reading the story. As usual, we have read the book multiple times because it was enjoyed all round and I am sure it will be read many more. This author will definitely remain a family favourite and we are all looking forward to the next book of hers we read.
The Uncrowned King by Ayla Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was really looking forward to getting my hands on the second book in the series and it definitely did not disappoint. I was pulled straight back into the story and the characters, as though I hadn’t stopped reading. I would highly recommend reading the first book before this, otherwise you would miss a lot of important content and information.
This book is even better than the first and I loved watching how the story played out. So much seems to happen and the story progresses, but the author handles it all with ease. The book is exciting and action packed, right from the word go. It felt like it was always on a knifes edge and could go anyway at any time. This book is well developed, interesting and a brilliant read. I cannot wait for the next one to see what happens.
Auctioned Surrender by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a two story book && they are both great stories!! Quite a bit happens in the first story. Very entertaining and such a fantastic story. It is a romantic suspense that is full of a whole lot of sizzle along with secrets, danger, hidden agendas, action, and of course love. Captivated from the very first page!! Story two was yet another amazing, suspenseful, romantic story in the series. The author’s stories are always well written and unpredictable with fantastic characters. Story two was such a fantastic addition to the series, I loved it and could not set aside until finished. Really LOVE this author and her writing style. Sooo glad I started these series!
A Heart So Savage by April Moran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is an incredible follow up to the first book and I could not wait to get my hands on it and start reading. This book is everything I was hoping for and I read it all in one sitting. It is just as dark, gritty and intense as the first book and I loved the further detail we get for the characters.
Kingston and Ava are not your typical couple, and are a couple that won’t be suitable for all readers. But for those who are a fan of this type of book, they are some of the best. I loved both of them because they weren’t perfect. They were flawed, dangerous and captivating. Their connection made them more real and I could have easily kept reading about them. This book was incredible and I would love to see more from this series in the future.
Tropic Heat by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Daniel is a jilted groom not knowing what to do with the very expensive non-refundable honeymoon, when his best friend convinces him to get over this heartache is to get drunk, find some girls and have fun. So as they arrive at the resort they get swept away in the fun spirit and too much alcohol and Daniel ends ups up in a one-night stand.
Sara is there just chilling, super charged and ready for action, when a handsome man catches her eye at check-in she is for fun and adventure but being in a romantic setting on your on is no fun so when she arrives at the hotel bar and said man arrives they strike up a conversation and before they know it they are in her room having fun, but what will happen in the morning?
This is a short, funny, romantic novella and will have you laughing out loud with some of the antics of both Joey, the best friend of Daniel, Sara and Daniel himself. With mischief and alcohol will this end happily ever after. The story is faced paced and although you see Daniel at his worst at the beginning of the book you end up routing for him to have happiness at the end.
Although a Novella this is definitely not a short change book and has the feel of a longer novel within the writing and the development of the characters, if you are looking for a quick coffee break read with romance and comedy this is the book for you.
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/121313439-hope-for-a-new-world” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Hope For a New World (The Hope Series Book 1)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681596017l/121313439._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/121313439-hope-for-a-new-world”>Hope For a New World</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29379178.Renee_W_Peek”>Renee W. Peek</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6114097193″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Maddison Bear’s Heart is an environmental attorney and is facing a lot of opposition. Of course the fight to save the environment is big but one day it will be even bigger than we have imagined. In this story she meets people who speak to Gaia and is told the world is coming to an end. They must make their way to a new plant called Adelphi. Will they make it there? This was an interesting book and the author is new to me. As we don’t know when this world will end or where we will end up this was an interesting take on what could happen in the future. I’m not usually into sci-fi type books, but this one really kept my attention. The author did a great job.
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/106111308-charlisa-wahtomy-alba”>View all my reviews</a>
Mission Improbable: Vietnam by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is a well written and interesting mystery story set in Vietnam. The story has a level of complexity and depth to it that I wasn’t expecting but definitely made me enjoy it more. This is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone. Although, I will certainly be going back to read the first two!
I thought all the characters in this book were well developed. They each added something to the story and helped to create a well rounded book. There was a great attention to detail in the book as well; it really felt like the intended reader learnt something about Vietnam. Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable book that has piqued my interest about what else this author will have to offer.
Nessie and the Living Stone by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lois Wickstrom is amazing. She has this magical way to write a children’s book that makes you feel like you’re in the world. And Loch Ness Monster is just the best. Nessie is just one of my most favorite subjects. Its just so magical and welcoming. It’s a chapter book, but I feel like it’s okay for someone to read to younger kids as well. I own a plethora of Lois Wickstrom books, I absolutely love her books, and I will always recommend her to anyone who has young kids and children. She should be in every library.
Review By
Manda Kelly
Recipe For Revenge: An Unputdownable Small Town Cozy Murder Mystery by Hazel Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Recipe for Revenge by Hazel Smith is the second book in the April May Cozy Mystery series. It was readable as a stand-alone book and would be even better in context as a series. It follows April May as she continues settling into life in Laurel Lake, Minnesota. With her home renovation coming along nicely, beloved furry companion, hot unofficial boyfriend, and enjoyable non- job with the newspaper – April seems to be doing great. Then tragedies begin hitting and, suddenly, April is dragged into the story of two lives lost to car accident 25 years ago. A good mystery that kept me guessing.
Reviewed by @WhisperHymer
