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April Showers Bring May Flowers (New Haven Police Romance Book 2) by Renee Grace Thompson – Review by Jana Teppih

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April Showers Bring May Flowers (New Haven Police Romance Book 2)April Showers Bring May Flowers by Renee Grace Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

April Showers Bring May Flowers by Renee Grace Thompson is the second book in her New Haven Police Romance series. I had not read the first book when I read this one and I had no issues to follow the story line. I got curious though and will read the first book that is Amy and Peter’s story as well …
April Showers Bring May Flowers is a sweet and sassy romance story of Lucy and Cade. Lucy is an amazing young woman who has moved to a new town and thinks that she is all alone. I loved how upfront she was and spat out everything that crossed her mind! She was such a badass fairy (she is tiny in her stature compared to the other characters). AND she was absolutely terrified of all kind of crawlies (you can just picture all kind of funny moments now, right?) Cade was this no-nonsense man who had a heart a size of a sun, he had his demons and he worked really hard on trusting the others. I loved how those two embarked on a journey to find themselves and each other.
There were times when I was laughing out loud when reading … There were times when I was crying out loud when I was reading … Ms Thompson knows how to pull us in and the way she spins the story, oh my … The way we can relate to these two down to earth people that care for others … Thank you for giving us their story! It is a beautiful romance that leaves no heart untouched!

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Children of Darkness: Genesis by Courtney Shockey – Review by Jana Teppih

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Children of Darkness: GenesisChildren of Darkness: Genesis by Courtney Shockey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Children of Darkness: Genesis by Courtney Shockey is the second book in her Nightmare series and what a nightmare it was AND in a good way! It delivered what it promised!
Children of Darkness: Genesis is a dark fantasy book that tells a story of the eternal fight between the good and the evil. The writer has taken an interesting approach to this fight and it is amazing how her story telling can pull you in and not let you go … you will go away and still keep thinking what the heck did I just read, did I get it correct, did she really mean … I mean it is the story of the Angel of Darkness and his ‘child’ …
What shocked me at first was that the writer had created a world, not unlike ours, but ‘completely’ evil, and like in our world, you have who you love and you have who you hate and it was at times really hard to keep ‘hating’ Ben as he was evil …
If you are ready to spend your evening with the Angel of Darkness aka the Boogie Man, spend the evening with Children of Darkness! It is something very different and at times, different is really what you were looking for …

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Disturbing the Peace (Blue Line, #4) by Brandy Ayers – Review by Jana Teppih

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Disturbing the Peace (Blue Line, #4)Disturbing the Peace by Brandy Ayers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disturbing the Peace by Brandy Ayers is the fourth book in her Blue Line series and what a cool instalment it is! I have read all four books and I loved how each of the books had its own story and at the same time also a story that continued from a book to book! I was very sad to come to the end of the series but I have to say that we are going out with a bang!
Disturbing the Peace is the book of Justice Reilly who bleeds blue and is definitely into the buckle bunnies and Ana Formosa who is a bad-ass b-i-t-c-h taking down criminals of Pittsburgh. They have a one night stand and then it should be over and done with … or is it now … the history has a tendency of biting one in their butt, and at times literally!
I loved how Justice and Ana had to figure out if they want to find a way forward together and who will be making compromises and will Justice be able to pull back some of his protectiveness … It is a short and steamy read that also gives us a closure on the case that we have been following through all the books of the series! You will not regret the time you will spend with our couple in blue!

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An English Rose: A Mother’s Love, A Love Inspired by Allyson R. Abbott – Review by Jana Teppih

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An English Rose: A Mother’s Love, A Love InspiredAn English Rose: A Mother’s Love, A Love Inspired by Allyson R. Abbott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An English Rose: A Mother’s Love, A Love Inspired is a short story by Allyson R. Abbot and it is my first encounter with this writer! When I started out on the journey with widowed 85-year old Rosemary “Rose” into her daily life, I was not so sure about where it would take us and whether I would like the ride. I absolutely loved it! Reading her story it brought me back to my first time in England 20 years ago, staying in an over hundred years old cottage in Southern England, drinking tea and eating biscuits … Rose reminded me of the old grey-haired (at times blue haired) ladies I met and chatted with, the way I saw them counting pennies and enjoying a strong cup of tea with some Victoria sponge cake and … It also reminded me of my own grandmother, staying with her in the countryside in the farm, her teaching me cooking and baking … making silver dollar pancakes on the wood burning stove …
It was a very emotional read, listening to Rose’s internal rumbling and fears and the loneliness … I loved her attitude and simplicity, her afternoon naps and her friendship with Bill … I loved how she managed find a new lease on her life, her determination to be there for her family and live as long as she could! No longer a grumpy old hag waiting for the death to come! Dear Ms Abbott, thank you for this sweet and real story that will remind us of the importance when it comes to our relationships with our elders!

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An Accident (Summer in New York, #2) by Lindsay Marie Miller – Review by Jana Teppih

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An Accident (Summer in New York, #2)An Accident by Lindsay Marie Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An Accident is the second book in Lindsay Marie Miller’s Summer in New York series and what a great book it is! Yes, you could read it as a standalone but why should you if you have found such an amazing series and you would get so much more out of the story having had read the first book before diving into this one!
An Accident is the story of Amy and Austin. Amy is a young woman who is hoping to open her own gallery once graduating from the NYU; Austin is a country boy from Missouri who is set to make a career in the culinary world. We are along on a ride that takes them from an innocent flirtation to a passionate love affair with everything imaginable in between and beyond!
I love the unique writing style that the writer has, it brings the story alive in front of your eyes and you feel as if you are there, with them! I also absolutely love series as I am dying for a glimpse into the lives of the previous books’ characters (no different here!).
I invite you to come on a journey with Amy and Austin, to find out how they will deal with the reality and their background … will their infatuation blossom into a strong love or will it crumble when facing obstacles … You will enjoy the hours you will spend with them and other secondary characters (that you love or hate … be ready for anything!) and will be left craving for more!

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Best Friend for Hire by Mary Carlomagno – Review by Jana Teppih

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Best Friend for HireBest Friend for Hire by Mary Carlomagno
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Best Friend for Hire is a standalone by Mary Carlomagno. You can totally get why the writer is a successful organizer, speaker and spokesperson specializing in helping individuals and groups embrace simplicity in their daily lives and one might even say that this fun read is a self-help book in disguise …
Best Friend for Hire is the story of Jersey girl Jessie DeSalvo who gets booted from her dream job at one of New York’s top publishing companies after 10 years. What should she do next considering the current economic environment and considering that she only has her cell phone and unusable contact list? I absolutely loved the humour that the writer injected into the story, very often I found myself snorting and laughing out loud … While starting her one-woman-band aka Best Friend for Hire endeavour, she meets some memorable and quirky characters! On top of that, Jessie is from a SCICILIAN!!! family so you can imagine her interaction with her family, it still cracks me up!
If you are looking for a quick and light read that leaves you feeling good, this book is definitely for you! Join Jessie on her journey of finding herself while gaining confidence and some great friends!

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Common Ground: Kayla and Taylor’s Story by Alice Rachel – Review by Jana Teppih

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Common Ground: Kayla and Taylor's StoryCommon Ground: Kayla and Taylor’s Story by Alice Rachel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Common Ground: Kayla and Taylor’s Story by Alice Rachel is part of her Underground series and you should really read them in an order. I know, it might be a bit confusing having had read the main first book and then reading the novella but in some ways it makes total sense! All these novellas/short stories that Alice is gracing us with give deeper insight into her dystopian world and helps you to understand some of the characters’ motivation and background better.
As the title says, this is the story of Kayla and Taylor who we know are leaders of the Resistance from reading the first book. I loved to learn about how they first met and how they built the trust between them and how experience of loss cemented their relationship further. Apart from Kayla and Taylor we learn more also about other characters we have come across the series …
This novella is another amazing example of the chilling world that the writer has created, it leaves us feeling disturbed especially considering the political environment we are living in! I was telling to a stranger today about the-forced-sterilization-of-lower-classes-law and permission-to-kill-the-homosexuals-at-sight law and she was blown away … is that the future awaiting for us? Keep writing Ms Rachel!

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An Arrangement (Summer in New York, #1) by Lindsay Marie Miller – Review by Jana Teppih

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An Arrangement (Summer in New York, #1)An Arrangement by Lindsay Marie Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An Arrangement by Lindsay Marie Miller is the first book in her Summer in New York series. It is not my first encounter with this writer so my expectations very pretty high.
An Arrangement is the story of Benny and Claire who have known each other since they were kids. Their parents used to summer next to each other in the Hamptons but now, they have drifted apart. Claire has always had a crush on Benny and unknown to her Benny has always ‘watched’ her … And then there is Claire’s younger sister Amy who is sick and needs experimental treatment … and her biatch of a mother that simply drove me batty!
I loved the story of Benny and Claire working on finding their way towards togetherness, still, at times they simply drove me bonkers, Claire with her insecurity and Benny with him kindness. At times I thought that he was too sweet and too kind … anyhow, it was a sweet easy read in the midst of all the heavy reading that I have been doing lately and when looking at the line-up I have on my kindle. Sometimes one needs some heart-warming romance with great characters and that is what An Arrangement is! Pick up your copy and keep your fingers crossed for Benny and Claire and Amy and hate your heart out of Claire’s mother!

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A Chance Worth Taking (Cedarville #5) by Bree Kraemer – Review by Jana Teppih

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A Chance Worth Taking (Cedarville #5)A Chance Worth Taking by Bree Kraemer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Chance Worth Taking by Bree Kreamer is the fifth book in her Cederville series and it is another hit! I have read the previous book and it was such a pleasure to meet some new people in this small town of Cederville and also meet up with the old friends!
This romantic story is the story of Avery Davies and Dax Lange and both of them have a pretty heavy baggage that they are carrying around. Avery is a newcomer in the area and she is ready to put down the roots! Dax has always lived in Cedarville and after a wild youth he found his way and is seemingly on top of the world except that when he meets Avery, his world goes topsy turvy!
It is a fast paced book and you will run a gamut of emotions while reading it! Grab a glass of wine and join the ladies of Cedarville while enjoying the pleasures of small town living! I love the sense of hope and certainty of happy ending that the writer is a master of creating! I know that I will be looking forward to the next story taking

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Emerald Green (Murder in Savannah, #1) by Lindsay Marie Miller – Review by Jana Teppih

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Emerald Green (Murder in Savannah, #1)Emerald Green by Lindsay Marie Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Emerald Green is the first book in Lindsay Marie Miller’s Murder in Savannah series. This is the first book I have read by this writer and I believe it will not be the last! She has a way of spinning the story so that you get lost in the world she has created and you struggle to surface as you have been feeling like living the story along with the characters.
Emerald Green is a Young Adult mystery and first love story that is filled with secrets and lies and theses amazing characters that you feel so invested in that you simply are not able to put the book down until you are at the end … How could you as there are reveals and plots and twists everywhere you turn (or turn your page) and you wish for the Happily Ever After.
There are three main characters in this story – Addie Smith, Tom Sutton and Ricky Travis at Maple Creek High in Savannah, Georgia. I am not going to tell you who is good and who is not, who is a bully and who is the knight on the white tarnished horse, the only thing I am going to tell you is that no matter what your age, if you like intricate puzzles, this is a book for you! Personally, I am looking forward to the next book in the series and I am curious to see where the writer will take us this time!

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A Ghoul’s Kiss (Ghoul Kisses, #1) by J.M. Stoneback – Review by Jana Teppih

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A Ghoul's Kiss (Ghoul Kisses, #1)A Ghoul’s Kiss by J.M. Stoneback
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Ghoul’s Kiss the first book in J.M. Stoneback’s new series called Ghoul Kisses. It was my first book by this writer and I am curious to see what the next instalment will be like. The writer has created an interesting universe filled with ghouls and vampires and witches and werewolves and all the other supernatural creatures and she is throwing our traditional perceptions up in the air… Who would have thought, for example, that a ghoul could be sexy?! Not me, for sure.
The story is a sexy, thrilling, at times a bit confusing and too abrupt of a fantasy romance story that is filled with action and abundance of supernatural! I felt at times that the writer could have taken a bit more time to go maybe deeper into some of the backgrounds and dynamics between the characters, still, overall, it was a good read and as I said, I am interested to see where the writer is taking the story to …
I loved how the writer used the alternating point of views story telling – that of the main characters of Sarah and Eric … they do not travel an easy road and it gives us quite a few chilling moments! I also loved the supporting characters such as Eric’s brothers Nicholas and David and David’s mate Odessa and so many more … I can just imagine the stories she can spin! Take a moment and spend an evening with Eric and Sarah and co and let the imagination take you away!

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Enigma: The Complete Collection: Four book box set (Perception 6) by Shandi Boyes – Review by Jana Teppih

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Enigma: The Complete Collection: Four book box set (Perception 6)Enigma: The Complete Collection: Four book box set by Shandi Boyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Enigma: The Complete Collection: Four book box set by Shandi Boyes is her gift to all her loyal readers and any new readers who find their way to Isaac and Isabelle “Izzie”. The breath-taking series itself is more than 4 books but Isaac and Isabelle’s story is the first four books so you will really get it all sweetly together and don’t have to wait and fiddle your thumbs like we did … The stories included are Enigma of Life, Unraveling an Enigma, Enigma: The Mystery Unmasked, and Enigma: The Final Chapter.
You have a pleasure to join us on a journey that the writer takes us on where we follow Isaac and Isabelle from the moment they meet unconventionally to where the journey takes them. Their story should really be recommended for over 18 year olds as it has very explicit and steamy scenes, also the languages the writer uses is utterly colourful at times!
Enigma is a love story of two complex people that should never have fallen in love, they carry heavy burdens and the secrets, oh my, they are so stifling at times. The first book introduces them to us and Isabelle needs to struggle with many ethical questions and their past has a great impact on the direction the writer is taking them. The second book gives us more insight into why Isaac is the way he is, we get to know other characters more and of course, we fall more and more in love with Isaac along with Isabel so we feel what she is feeling… The third book the writer also starts getting more into the secondary characters as well, we learn more about Hunter and Hugo and Reagan … it all fits into storyline so it is not forced. In the final chapter we really find out if the love and trust between Isaac and Izzie will stand in the face of their greatest challenge so far … We will see how far Izzie will go to protect Isaac and how she will face her greatest fear
There is something about the way Shandi writes, any time I think that it cannot get any better, it does… she creates these powerful pictures and stories with her words, you get sucked into the mystery and questions and heartache along with the characters. You question your sanity and ask yourself what would I do in this situation. You lament and laugh and keep your fingers crossed. Take a weekend and spend it discovering Isaac and Izzie’s story and I know, you will be enchanted with them and will want to read also the next books that are about the characters you have already met and gotten curious about!
What a treat!

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Falling into the Black by Lauren Runow – Review by Jana Teppih

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Falling into the BlackFalling into the Black by Lauren Runow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Falling into the Black by Lauren Runow is an intense second chance romance mixed into a love triangle that blows your mind. It is the first book I have read by this writer and I am a believer, I will definitely check out some of her other books. On top of being a romance, it is also a delicious mix of erotica, chemistry, romance and … angst … with a sex club thrown in as well …
So, Falling into the Black is the story of Evangeline “Angie”, Cole and Carter. They meet at the above mentioned sex club and there is instant connection there and BOTH of the guys are attracted to Evangeline. I have it really hard to choose between Cole and Carter as they are in some ways similar but in some ways different but both of them have staying power and it is first time in for ever that Evangeline feels she is ready to explore a relationship …
I love the emotional rollercoaster that the writer is taking us on, the angst that all of the characters feel, their interactions and banter and of course, the history that is there, laying below it all … There are many twists and turns in the story and some might be predictable, still, I found it difficult to put the book down. It is a great read that you will not regret picking up!

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All the Wounds in Shadow (The Healing Edge, #2) by Anise Eden – Review by Jana Teppih

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All the Wounds in Shadow (The Healing Edge, #2)All the Wounds in Shadow by Anise Eden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

All the Wounds in Shadow by Anise Eden is the second book in her Healing Edge series. I do not think you should read it as a standalone as we are picking up where we left off in the first book – Cate has accepted a position with the MacGregor group and it feels like we are back with old friends.
Cate has started her internship under Ben’s leadership of the team. They have decided to keep their relationship just for themselves for now and I love the slow burn we see throughout the book – as Cate is still ‘in training’ then she is not allowed to have sex (and you can imagine what kind of tension it brings along considering how Cate deals with the emotional overload) and … eat red meat (I wonder why …). I loved how the writer allowed their relationship to grow while they are solving a mystery with their team (and Ben’s old Marine buddies) …
Anise has written a solid sequel that does not leave you disappointed, especially if you like a bit different type of paranormal reading! I am curious to see what she comes up with next (and I hope we will get more of the rest of the team – the paranormal one and the marine-y one!)

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Empires and Kings (Mafia, #1) by A.C. Bextor – Review by Jana Teppih

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Empires and Kings (Mafia, #1)Empires and Kings by A.C. Bextor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Empires and Kings by A.C. Bextor is the first book in her Mafia trilogy and a solid five star read! It was the first book I have read by this writer and I was and am smitten! At the time of writing this review, I have already devoured the second book and I cannot wait for the third one to come out! I hope Carrie is not going to make us wait too long!
Yes, you can say that this book (and series) is a romanticized organized crime story but I do not care! The way the writer draws us in and the rollercoaster we are on from the page one, it is something. And yes, this book is dark and brutal, from the page one … the lives of Vlad and Klara and all the others in their ‘family’, all the angst and all the secrets … The complexity of characters, the surprising vulnerability of someone who appears so cold and in control (obviously I am talking about Vlad) when it comes to the people he loves … but let’s start from the beginning – Klara met Vlad for the first time when she was 5 years old and he was torturing her father who was betraying ‘the family’. She has lived with the Zalesky family ever since … Vlad is the head of the ‘Russian family’ in Chicago and as you can imagine, he carries many secrets.
If you like mafia stories and are curious about Vlad and Klara, I invite you to join us in the world the writer has created where no feeling stays untouched and unfelt and where you are not able to put the book down until you get to the end and then, most likely, like me, you will go and get the next one. I was lucky; I started reading over the weekend so I had time to read also the next one! Carrie, please do NOT make us wait too long for the third one!

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Because of You by Megan Nugen Isbell – Review by Jana Teppih

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Because of YouBecause of You by Megan Nugen Isbell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Because of You is a standalone by Megan Nugen Isabell and it is the second book I have read by this writer and she killed it! The first book I read by her was a fine read but this one, oh my goodness; this one simply took it beyond anything I could have imagined!
“Be the woman he fell in love with. Live and be strong. Always.” The writer ripped out my heart and I never got it back … I cried and cried and hoped for the best and … I get you, Megan, I understand why you said that this book took you almost two years to write and that eventually Sam and Gabe where screaming at you to tell their story … I would scream as well …
So Because of You is the story of Samantha ‘Sam’ Everly and Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Torres. Samantha’s life has been one horror after another since she was a little kid and it has been just her and her older sister Rachel against the world … The demons though, they do not leave you even when you leave the place and people that are the cause of it and very often even if we do not want to repeat the patterns, we still tend to it … Sometimes, you need to reach the darkest point of your life to find the light and hope … Gabe is a Boston cop and one of the best men Sam has ever met, one of the best any of us has met. The world is a better place just because men like Gabe exist.
I invite to join us on the journey of Sam discovering her worth and value … rage against the abuse that so many children and women (and also men)suffer every day … and wish for the light and hope … I promise you that once you start Because of You, you will not be able to put it down and once you are at the end, you will love Megan for ever … though I do understand why you wrote the way you did, I still wish …

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Closed Set by Julia Harlow – Review by Jana Teppih

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Closed SetClosed Set by Julia Harlow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Closed Set by Julia Harlow is a standalone suspense romance story that takes you to the distance. It is the second book I have read by Julia and I have to say that I enjoyed this one slightly more as it flew smoother and I did not get the moments where I would have gotten annoyed with something.
For me the story of Cassandra Carlson and Christopher Edwards is like a river where you go white water rafting – there are parts/moments where you do not know if Cassandra and Christopher will make it and the river is like Hollywood, you never know what is hiding beneath the surface.
Cassandra is a beautiful dance teacher who is working on her five-year plan at her best friend’s dance studio in Beverly Hills – her plan is earn enough with these five years and then go back home to Cincinnati to open a dance studio there and teach kids dance. She is in some ways naïve and wholesome and incredible beautiful and her attraction to Christopher is instant. Christopher is a British A-list actor who has finally made it after working hard in the industry for 15 years. His sole focus is on his craft. He has beautiful women falling for him right and left and he does not consider himself ready for an actual relationship … still, the moment he meets Cassandra, he is instantly smitten.
Julia will keep you at the edge of your seat while managing the underwater dangers of Hollywood and you will not have a one boring moment. If you do not mind steamy sex scenes, lurking danger and living on the edge, this book is for you!

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All the Broken Places (The Healing Edge, #1) by Anise Eden – Review by Jana Teppih

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All the Broken Places (The Healing Edge, #1)All the Broken Places by Anise Eden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

All the Broken Places is the first book in The Healing Edge series by Anise Eden. It is her debut paranormal romance book and it is a great start on a very promising series!
It is from page one that you get pulled into the world of Cate Duncan and she does not let you leave. I think I felt very strong about Cade’s mother committing suicide as the lead singer of my favourite band just committed suicide a month ago and I am still reeling … For me, the book actually went well beyond the supernatural, it tackles the deep issues of depression, suicide and abuse …
I loved Cate the therapist with some unique abilities and my gosh, Ben the head of the program Cate ‘joins’ and the son of the woman heading the whole collection of alternative healers. I have been practicing reiki for almost 20 years so some of the things made me sit back and say, hmm … it is totally possible and it is not so far out …. And all the other people around Cate and Ben, I cannot wait to learn more about them in the books to come or at least I hope so!
Thank you Anise for creating a world that will keep bringing us back, even though we all do not have those amazing and crazy gifts as your MacGregor Group, I think there is a lot we can relate to … Don’t we tend to think that we are right and the others are emotional or … We can see that the writer has really done her homework and we can enjoy the fruits of it … I know what I will be reading next week, I have the next book in the series already downloaded … Join me but please read the first book before starting on the second one as well, you will be lost …

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A Scottish Wedding (A Lost in Scotland #2) by Hilaria Alexander – Review by Jana Teppih

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A Scottish Wedding (A Lost in Scotland #2)A Scottish Wedding by Hilaria Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Scottish Wedding is sequel to Hilaria Alexander’s Lost in Scotland and I inhaled it straight after I was done with Lost in Scotland. You do NOT want to read the Scottish Wedding before Lost in Scotland! I got the second book first so I had to put it on hold while inhaling Lost in Scotland.
I absolutely fell in love with Sam and Hugh and I guess I cannot say I fell in love with Scotland as I have been in Scotland for a long time so I am very grateful to Hilaria for gracing us with more of Sam and Hugh and hilarious co in the beautiful countryside of Scotland! The beautiful imagery, the banter and sexy encounters … vow … she really made me blush and sigh lost in the pages and pages of beautifully written story …
You would think when seeing the title that the story is only about Sam and Hugh’s nuptials but you would be wrong! It is about so much more! It is about how they get to know each other more, build trust and learn how to endure life’s hardships, the importance of friendship and being there for others … I truly hope that Hilaria is not leaving Scotland behind and she will keep telling stories that cement our love for all that is Scottish!
I have to confess that after finishing this book, I got Hilaria’s Rivers brothers’ books as I got interested in them when Hilaria mentioned them in Scottish Wedding so here I come, Rivers brothers!

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Beautiful Masterpiece (Thin Red Lines, #1) by Gen Ryan – Review by Jana Teppih

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Beautiful Masterpiece (Thin Red Lines, #1)Beautiful Masterpiece by Gen Ryan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beautiful Masterpiece by Gen Ryan is the first book in her Thin Red Line series and she absolutely crushed me! It is hard to find words to describe what I felt when reading this book. The writer has created a story that is dark and twisted and at the same time, she has thrown in some romance …
It is a story of Maddie and Scott and Liam in the Chaos created by a monster … Scott is the tough boy next door who kicks ass and plays by the book and who saved Maddie when she was a kid … Liam, the beautiful broken Liam … until the end, I hoped that there was a way for him to be saved …
My word, the writer has a mind I do not even want to delve into, she sucks you in, she gives you every characters thoughts when she writes from their point of view … she drags you along on a rollercoaster, you scream and you cry and you simply cannot put the book down until you are in the end, until you know, for sure, whether evil laughs in victory or whether the humanity still has a chance … The darkness that lives within us all, the evil that surrounds us … the innocence that is robbed … the sacrifice that is willingly given to protect … I cannot wait to read the next masterpiece!

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Better Together (Cedarville #4) by Bree Kraemer – Review by Jana Teppih

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Better Together (Cedarville #4)Better Together by Bree Kraemer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Better Together by Bree Kraemer is the fourth book in her Cedarville Series. I had not read the first three when I read this one and I am sure, I would have gotten much more out of it had I read the first three … I felt that I missed knowing who the rest of the Cedarville gang was.
Better Together was a sweet and steamy story of Ryan Ball and Addison Scott. Ryan is a perfectly groomed tax lawyer outside and a clumsy sweet boy inside who has learnt to fake it and have it under control at any given moment. Addison is an extremely beautiful smart young woman who has led quite a solitary life as she has been shunned by other women who thought she might go after their boyfriends/men when she starts hanging out with them …
Ryan’s life changes overnight when his brother and his wife die and he gets the co-guardianship over his young nephew and he moves into this true American small town Cedarville, Ohio where he get this amazing support network of great group of people.
I loved how Bree has built that crazy inviting small town world with these lovable characters that make one wish to move there as well! I enjoyed the journey she took us on along with Addison and Ryan when they were figuring out the way to each other! I know I will definitely go back and read the first 3 books; actually, I already downloaded the first one!
Take a chance on Cedarville and this group of young people that show that there is hope for everyone!

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All Tyed Up by Julia Harlow – Review by Jana Teppih

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All Tyed UpAll Tyed Up by Julia Harlow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All Tyed Up is a standalone by Julia Harlow and it is the first book I have read by this writer and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I gave it four stars and let me tell you why.
All Tyed Up is a story of Isabel Beachwood and Tyberius Ty Griffin. Isabel is an enigmatic 25-year old app designer and Ty is a ruthless businessman and a CEO of Grandin Financial, the company taking over the company that Isabel is working for and therefore also responsible for Isabel losing her job. It is very unfortunate how they decide based on seniority and not based on the performance and that is something that Ty has actually issues with.
I loved how Julia had Isabel and Ty to meet first outside their workplace – as Isabel was losing her job, she had to give up her rental apartment and she had to get rid some of her furniture and Ty came for the table that Isabel so loved.
Isabel is described as a plus size but at the same time the way it was expressed it seemed that she was most likely a curvy girl, I can see how her perception of herself was of a plus size woman due to the mental and emotional abuse she suffered in the hands of her stepfather.
Something that bothered me and why I am giving 4 stars is the dropping of brand names, for me, it took something away from the story and did not let the story flow as it could have. Otherwise I think Julia has created a fun story that you can easily spend a great evening with AND let’s not forget about all the great minor characters … I wonder if Julia will have a follow up for this story, I would totally be in the line for reading it!

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Amelia’s Children by Greta Cribbs – Review by Jana Teppih

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Amelia's ChildrenAmelia’s Children by Greta Cribbs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amelia’s Children is Greta Cribbs’ debut novel and after reading it I am convinced, she will have a bright future! It was a fantastic paranormal mystery worth all of the five stars!
Amelia’s Children is about a 30-year-old murder where the killer was never caught. It starts with a stranger appearing in a southern small town and asking uncomfortable questions. Who is he? What is his connection to the murder? Why did he come? He is David Jenson and he has ‘dreams’ and he is taking us along on a journey that he has set out on with Sarah Hathaway. Sarah is a young woman, she has just returned from L.A. after abandoning her dreams of becoming an actress.
Sarah feels an instant connection to David and throughout the story we keep asking ourselves, will there be more between them as David also feels a connection to Sarah once he starts opening up. I also loved the relationship Sarah had with his brother William and I cried my eyes out when William suffered the incredible and heart breaking loss …
Greta has weaved a great story filled with mystery, adventure and danger. It keeps you on your toes so you cannot put the book down so you better wait until Friday night before you start reading it, otherwise you will be in T-R-O-U-B-L-E! Your boss will not be happy with your level of attention and energy the next day!
The writer has an amazing writing style and takes you at time to a direction you could not see coming! Grab a copy and find out for yourself if David and Sarah do solve the 30-year-old mystery

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Duplicity (St. Fleur #3) by A.J. Renee – Review by Jana Teppih

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Duplicity (St. Fleur #3)Duplicity by A.J. Renee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Duplicity is the third book in A.J. Renee’s St. Fleur series and I absolutely loved it! I was counting down they days until I could read it! I fell in love with her city of St. Fleur in Louisiana while reading the previous books and I could not wait for her to grace us with Jaime Lynn and Jesse’s story!
So, Duplicity is the story of Jaime Lynn and Jesse, the story spans actually multiple years, in a way, and I loved how much we learn about our characters thanks to the way how the writer takes us on the journey of two people finally finding each other. I had waited for their story for such a long time! The writer kept us teasing in the first two books so I knew when I got the book that I had to put aside enough time to be able to inhale it in one go! (like an addict!).
I loved both of the characters – Jaime Lynn with her expectations that everyone leaves and no one stays and her strength and business acumen and her loyalty to her friends and her love of her little sister and her doubts and insecurity when it comes to Jesse … and Jesse, his secrets and his strength and his heartache and his love and his willingness to finally fight for what and whom he loves!
I think that A.J. Renee simply gets better with every single book in this series and I am so looking forward to the next one! I wonder who it will be about. Jamie Lynn’s little sister Charlie or … Pick up a copy and you will not regret! You will enjoy the time you will be spending with our friends in St. Fleur, Louisiana!

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Breathless (Yoga in the City #1) by Leigh LaValle – Review by Jana Teppih

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Breathless (Yoga in the City #1)Breathless by Leigh LaValle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Breathless is the first book in Leigh LaValle’s new series called Yoga in the City and it is the first book I have read by this writer and after finishing this one, I can tell you that I am really looking forward to the next book in this series! I wonder where she will take us with all those different yoga ‘girls’!
Breathless is the story of Hannah Roberts and Jake Marshall and oh man, do they carry the weight of the world on their shoulders or not! Both of them are characters that pull you in and don’t let you go until you come to the end and do they take us on a ride in between! I loved how the writer could evoke a gamut of emotions in me while reading – I laughed and chuckled and cursed and fanned myself and blushed and screamed in my head and raged and … well, you sort of get a picture!
I loved how Leigh was playing with all those crazy stereotypes that we tend to have about yoga teachers and mountain men and construction guys/guys with tools and prove us … wrong. We all have a story, we simply need to open up to life and dare to share and then we will be awarded with surprises, sometimes great ones and sometimes with the ones that teach us a lesson or simply boggle our mind!
I could not put the book down so I suggest that you plan a quiet afternoon with Hannah and Jake and the rest of the gang. You will enjoy the time you will spend with those two very real characters and I will be looking forward to the next book!

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A Kiss upon a Star (Daydreams & Dragonflies, #1) by Tamara Ferguson – Review by Jana Teppih

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A Kiss upon a Star (Daydreams & Dragonflies, #1)A Kiss upon a Star by Tamara Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Kiss Upon A Star by Tamara Ferguson is the first book in her Daydreams & Dragonflies Sweet Romance series. I have read quite a few of her books so I was very much looking forward to this new series and she did not let me down!
It is a short and sweet story of Tim and Emily who meet for the very first time when Emily is just 10 years old. Emily’s life is all mapped out by her mother already at that young of an age so it sort of seems like where do we go from here? Skipping ahead in time by 8 years and they meet up again and by the end of that surprise encounter, they both know that there is something special between them. They agree to email to each other but obviously, something goes wrong (like in real life …) Skipping ahead another 6 years and we are on a journey to find out if love really finds a way.
A Kiss Upon A Star is a sweet love story and if you have read any of the other Tamara Ferguson’s books then you know what to be prepared for! I loved the humour and resilience and how Emily finally finds her way and how well Tim and Emily complement each other and I was happy to be back in Crystal Rock and … I love the world Tamara has created in Crystal Rock and I have to admit after I had finished this book, I went and read couple of other stories in her Wounded Warrior series that I had missed to read yet.
If you feel a bit low and want to read something that warms your heart and soul, pick up Tamara Ferguson! She will deliver and restore your faith and hope!

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Bonded (A Twisted Hearts Love Story book 3) by Autumn Sand – Review by Jana Teppih

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Bonded (A Twisted Hearts Love Story book 3)Bonded by Autumn Sand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bonded is the third book in Autumn Sand’s Twisted Hearts Love Story series and absolutely, you can read it as a standalone but why should you? She has written two other amazing books that will get you hooked on the series and in reality, we do meet BOTH of the main characters in the previous two books and of course, all the sidekicks! You would never expect that a series can get so much better with each book but you would be wrong, there is something about the way Autumn writes that simply spell bounds you and you are like a fly in a spider’s web and she keeps coming at you again and again and again. You cry your heart out, you scream, you blush, you rage, you cannot put the book down, you check if there will be more books in the series (and thank God, there is a fourth book listed on Goodreads so I know at some point in time, there will be another one!!).
Bonded is the story of Carl CJ “Magnum” Miller and Brenda Johnson. Both of them carry heavy burden of their past and do not trust the people and do not think that they would ever be worthy/ready for a relationship. When Brenda sees Magnum for the first time, she does not think of happily ever after, she is thinking of a hot and steamy one night stand. When Magnum meets the spunky Brenda for the first time, he knew that he was in trouble and his need for her ran way too deep so he knew what he had to do – push her away …
Add to this all the past that does not stay buried, a grisly anniversary coming and you have a recipe for an amazing story! Thank you Autumn and please, do not keep us waiting too long!

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Change of Heart (Second Chances 1) by Jennifer L. Allen – Review by Jana Teppih

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Change of Heart (Second Chances 1)Change of Heart by Jennifer L. Allen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Change of Heart by Jennifer L Allen is the first book in her Second Chances series. It is the second book by this writer that I have had a tremendous pleasure to read and she amazed me once again!
Change of Heart is the story of Casey and Decker. It is a heartfelt story that you get enchanted with from the beginning and cannot let go! “We’re gonna be best friends.” This is how their story started, they were just six years old and already then Decker knew his mind! I absolutely loved how Jennifer weaves the tale, giving us glimpses of how Casey and Decker’s friendship grew and how they felt about each other. We go from the beginning of senior year to the graduation and then, boom … we meet them again, 3 years later not knowing why we have ‘lost’ all that time …
This book, oh my goodness, it took me from crying my eyes out to yelling in my head at Casey to keeping my fingers crossed … It is incredible how wrong things can go when we do not communicate and take decisions thinking of the other person’s best! We do not know what is best for the other person! We need to let them to take the decisions that have such impact on their lives!
I recommend this book of second chances to everyone, no matter the age! Have a box of tissues at hand as you will need them! I have already downloaded the second book on the series so I know who I will be spending my evening with!

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Beneath the Sheets (Enigma #6) by Shandi Boyes – Review by Jana Teppih

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Beneath the Sheets (Enigma #6)Beneath the Sheets by Shandi Boyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beneath the Sheets by Shandi Boyes is the conclusion of Hugo’s story and the sixth book in her Engima series. You definitely cannot read it as a standalone! You would be so lost that it is not even funny! I actually suggest that you not only read Hugo’s first book but that you read all the 5 preceding books!
As said above, Beneath the Sheets is the conclusion of Hugo’s story and I have been waiting for it for ever! (Or at least it feels like for ever …). It is a story about love, family; friendships that go beyond the mundane, sacrifice, guilt … you just name it! Five years have passed since we left Ava behind and disappeared with Hugo and now it is time for Hugo to face the music, go back and make amends and pray that Ava’s heart is big enough to give him another chance …
This book will take you hostage, play with your emotions and at times you are not sure where is up and where is down, it is such a rollercoaster, such emotions … and it is not just women who feel here, it is also those strong alpha males! I could not put the story down before I was finished with it and then I went and checked when the release date of Hunter’s story is and I pre-ordered it! I love your story telling Ms Boyes and I impatiently am waiting for Hunter’s story! I wonder who will be next … Please do not keep us waiting too long! We need our Engima world fix!

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Always Mine (St. Fleur #2) by A.J. Renee – Review by Jana Teppih

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Always Mine (St. Fleur #2)Always Mine by A.J. Renee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Always Mine is the second book in A. J. Renee’s St Fleur series that takes place in a small town not far from New Orleans. I loved the first book and I assume you could possibly read the second book as a standalone but I would definitely NOT recommend it!
Always Mine is the story of Lindsay and Marc. We already saw in the first book that there were undeniably sparks flying when they were in the same space and I could not wait for their book. Luckily their book was already out by the time I had read the first book so no hangover!
Lindsay and Marc’s story is a story of second chances, it is full of passion and heat and doubts and flashbacks into the past and internal struggle and … oh my goodness, what a ride! On top of the romance there is the whole stalker creepiness going on and that added another layer of mystery to the whole story, well done A.J.!
I loved the way Marc and Lindsay interacted, they were really endearing and they simply seemed to work … On top of that, there are quite a few other characters that we already fell in curiosity or love with in the first book and we get a bit more insight into their lives in this book, cannot wait for the next one! I love our St. Fleur family!
If you want to spend couple of hours in Louisiana surrounded by romance and heat, I tell you, you need to read the St. Fleur series! Enjoy it! And have a glass of wine while doing it!

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