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Night Sweats and Hockey Nets (Hot Flash Hookups Series) by Sylvie Stewart and Marika Ray – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Night Sweats and Hockey Nets (Hot Flash Hookups #3)Night Sweats and Hockey Nets by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another home run, or should I say hat trick, for this author combo. I love spicy hockey romance stories and this is another great one in this series. All three books have been great so far and I just loved the dynamic between Chloe and Nikolai, plus there was Ayana. I love all the links to the hockey guys and their gals from the previous two books. Chloe, Nikolai, Sylvie and Marika make magic happen when they team up. You’ve got perimenopause drama, spice, humor, hockey players, a single dad trying to win custody of his daughter, and so much more all rolled up in one story. Easy and quick read for me but loved it (as expected based on previous reads by this duo)!

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The Crown of Stones Trilogy Box Set (The Crown of Stones Series) by C. L. Schneider – Review by Jayme Raffauf

The Crown of Stones Complete TrilogyThe Crown of Stones Complete Trilogy by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Crown of Stones Trilogy is a set of 3 books: Magic – Price, Magic – Scars, and Magic – Borne. This set of 3 is a great set for fans of dark fantasy. It is full of Kings, princes, magic, war, witches and so much more. The books follow the main character of Ian Troy as he goes on his journey of finding a balance between using his magic or not due to the consequences it has on the people and the world around him. All three books have great world building and deep casts of characters. After reading the whole series, I would strongly recommend reading the books in order. Overall, I enjoyed all three books in the series.

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London Detective Agency (London Detective Agency Series) by Stephanie R. Caffrey – Review by Jayme Raffauf

London Detective Agency: The Complete SeriesLondon Detective Agency: The Complete Series by Stephanie R. Caffrey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MISTAKEN IDENTITY
I really enjoyed book 1. The fast-paced, action-packed journey of Evelyn and Patrick is enjoyable and full of emotions.There’s crime drama, relationship building and drama, international travel drama, suspense, and so much more! Lots of drama, but in the best way! I thought this was a very entertaining story and I am definitely excited to read book 2 in the series!

BE MY LITTLE BABY
Well, book 2 in the London Detective Agency series did not disappoint. I enjoyed book 1, and book 2 was also so good! The dynamics between Tessa and James were sizzling and I actually loved the more relatable storyline when compared to book 1. Having Evie and Patrick in the sequel connected the stories and was a great continuation from book 1. Lots of fun characters to follow and learn about, but Tessa and James were wonderful and I loved how they dealt with each obstacle as it came along. I will be recommending this series to other book fans for sure. Warning, you will be craving pumpkin bars by the end of the book!

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Unmasking a Cowgirl (Match Made in Montana Series) by Rachelle Paige Campbell – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Unmasking A Cowgirl (Match Made in Montana Book 3)Unmasking A Cowgirl by Rachelle Paige Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. It is book three in a series and I did not read the first two books, but found that I had no trouble reading this book out of order. I think that the back story and understanding of characters in books 1 & 2 would’ve added to the story, but it was not necessary in order to enjoy the book. I liked the dynamic between Abby and Joe. Abby has a secret and Joe knows something is amiss. Navigating through the situation provided a good story to follow and I found this to be a quick and easy read. I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed and the author could’ve developed the story following the revealing of secret and the aftermath a little bit more. But overall, I still enjoyed the book.

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Forever to Fall (Buckeye Falls Book 5) by Libby Kay – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Forever to Fall (Buckeye Falls, #5)Forever to Fall by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a cute and romantic story about Mallory and Beckett. This is book 5 in the Buckeye Falls series and despite not reading the previous 4 books, I had no trouble falling in love with the characters in this book. This was a fast read and very predictable most of the time, but honestly that didn’t bother me at all because I just loved Mallory and Beckett and all of the characters involved in the story. Such a great dynamic between best friends and soul mates and also the layers of grief and loneliness. This story was heartwarming and I loved it. If you love lighthearted, sweet romances, then this one (and probably the rest of the series) is for you.

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Picking Pismo by Emi Hilton – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Picking PismoPicking Pismo by Emi Hilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this lighthearted story. The layers of grief, love, family-related burdens and more all made this a great book to read. It was a very quick read as the characters were lovable and the kind to pull you right into the story and had you rooting for them throughout the book. Claire and David, along with Alexis were wonderful characters and all had their collective ups and downs and obstacles along the way. Emi Hilton did a great job with this story and pulled in so many emotions and situations that felt so real in the moment. Great book, especially for a fast and easy read.

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Be My Little Baby (London Detective Agency Series) by Stephanie R. Caffrey – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Be My Little Baby (London Detective Agency Book 2)Be My Little Baby by Stephanie R. Caffrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, book 2 in the London Detective Agency series did not disappoint. I enjoyed book 1 and book 2 was also so good! The dynamics between Tessa and James were sizzling and I actually loved the more relatable storyline when compared to book 1. Having Evie and Patrick in the sequel connected the stories and was a great continuation from book 1. Lots of fun characters to follow and learn about, but Tessa and James were wonderful and I loved how they dealt with each obstacle as it came along. I will be recommending this series to other book fans for sure. Warning, you will be craving pumpkin bars by the end of the book!

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Finding Hope: A Small Town Beach Romance (Half Moon Bay Series) by Erin Brockus – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Finding Hope (Half Moon Bay #1)Finding Hope by Erin Brockus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a cute, romantic book. This story will have you wanting to hop a flight to St. Croix and doing all the scuba diving! Finding Hope is a quick, easy, beachy read. I loved the character of Hope and her very normal struggles, and who doesn’t love a handsome dive instructor at the resort she unexpectedly won ownership of?! I enjoyed this book and will be reading more in the series.

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Rock Crush and Roll by Hunter Snow – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Rock Crush and RollRock Crush and Roll by Hunter Snow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great read. Tyler is such a strong, feisty woman working in the music industry. This book was full of great characters, some that the reader will love and some that the reader will not. Following Tyler and Cary’s story is fun and engaging and takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions as they navigate a complicated journey. As a big music fan myself, I really appreciate the behind-the-scenes look into the music industry from a managing/touring aspect. I really enjoyed this fast-paced read.

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The Veil (The Veil Realms Series Book One) by Karli Rush – Review by Jayme Raffauf

The VeilThe Veil by Karli Rush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting read. Good world building with the Realms inside the Veil. I wasn’t sure about the storyline at times, but it ended up connecting well and as the reader, you get invested in the characters like Selene and Rayden right from the beginning. And then you begin to get attached to others like Sirius, Nevaeh and Tiffany. This is a dystopian fantasy fiction novel and the first in the series. Overall, I found it very interesting and a good read.

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The Music That Ties Us (Love Ties Us Series) by Nicolette Terry – Review by Jayme Raffauf

The Music That Ties Us: A Rockstar Romance (Love Ties Us)The Music That Ties Us: A Rockstar Romance by Nicolette Terry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I am a huge music person, so this book really resonated with me. I enjoyed the storyline with Caydence and Jade, plus the dynamic with Caydence and Elijah. Then you have the whole dynamic with Caydence and Damien and the music. This was a great summer read and I really liked it. I also loved some of the locations within the book that are places I lived or have visited which added a fun element to the book for me personally. I would absolutely read another book by Nicolette Terry if it’s anything like this one!

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Red (Modern-Day Fairy Tale Book 2) by MK Harkins – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Red (Modern-Day Fairy Tale, #2)Red by M.K. Harkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a cute book that I really enjoyed. It’s a fantasy romance with some mystery elements, too. Take a modern day cinderella and little red riding hood and add fairies and guardian angels. Such an interesting twist that made for a fun read. I enjoyed the story of Lily and George, along with the many other key characters – Ashley, Harry, Hunter, Merilee, Fannetta and Zuriel. This is book two in the Modern-Day Fairy Tale series. I think reading book one would’ve added some background info, but I did not read book 1 and had no problem understanding the story. I did enjoy this book a lot and would read other books in this series based on reading this one.

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Red (Modern-Day Fairy Tale Book 2) by MK Harkins – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Red (Modern-Day Fairy Tale, #2)Red by M.K. Harkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a cute book that I really enjoyed. It’s a fantasy romance with some mystery elements, too. Take a modern day cinderella and little red riding hood and add fairies and guardian angels. Such an interesting twist that made for a fun read. I enjoyed the story of Lily and George, along with the many other key characters – Ashley, Harry, Hunter, Merilee, Fannetta and Zuriel. This is book two in the Modern-Day Fairy Tale series. I think reading book one would’ve added some background info, but I did not read book 1 and had no problem understanding the story. I did enjoy this book a lot and would read other books in this series based on reading this one.

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The Handshake Agreement (Book 1) by A. Akinosho – Review by Jayme Raffauf

The Handshake AgreementThe Handshake Agreement by A. Akinosho
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting read for me. Definitely an age gap with a possessive MMC, but knowing that ahead of time was not essential, though it helped me know what to expect from the story. The family dynamics were quite interesting with lots of layers for both Declan and for Anne. But I most appreciated the way that different cultures and languages were pulled into the story to really enhance the characters of Anne, her brother, and her roommate. Declan and Anne’s connection was interesting and I did like the way that there was a back and forth and up and down and all around from beginning to the end. I did feel that the ending was a bit abrupt compared to how drawn out their relationship was, but overall, a decent book.

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Salt Love by Marika Ray – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Salt Love: A Summer Romantic ComedySalt Love: A Summer Romantic Comedy by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Super cute, funny, and romantic beach read! Dec and Kenna are hilarious and such an interesting match up. Their unusual pairing due to Aunt Maeve’s will and the chain of events leading up to that moment get the reader hooked right from the start. So many laughs and some great romance, interesting parent dynamics and a great cast of characters makes for a great and very quick read. Makes me want to head straight to the Florida keys! Another great book from Marika Ray!

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By Your Side (Willowbrook Lake Series) by Ashley Erin – Review by Jayme Raffauf

By Your Side (Willowbrook Lake, #1)By Your Side by Ashley Erin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this book to be a great summer rom com for me. I loved it so much and read it in a matter of hours. This is book 1 in a series and I look forward to reading more to continue learning about the other characters and their stories. Adeline goes from grief to starting fresh in a new town and wrestles with so many emotions along her journey. Owen is a great male character and provides a great balance to Adeline’s world. I appreciated the realness and rawness of her emotions, her feelings, her guilt…it made it so relatable to the reader. This is a great story about love and loss and trying to navigate the journey to being open to finding love again.

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Stout of My League (Love on Tap Series) by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Stout of My League (Love on Tap #4)Stout of My League by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved this book. I have enjoyed this author in previous books and was not disappointed! This is book 4 of a series, but I was able to read it as a stand alone and it was fine, but I will be going back to read the previous books since this one was so much fun. Cute rom-com style, with a little spice, but not a crazy amount. Baseball players, protective brothers, lots of humor, and so much more. Lynn and Joey are just such a great pair in this story! Great book for a summer read!

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Five Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Five Tries to Get It RightFive Tries to Get It Right by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great story with so many layers. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, but relatable characters dealing with so many emotions and situations. Lydia and Kate are working on their friendships, while both have their own losses, grief, challenges, emotions, distractions, and more to work through…along with the added layers of mental health struggles for Kate. There could be some triggers, but overall, this is a well written story that was enjoyable to read.

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Moonlight Drive by A.R. Hadley – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Moonlight DriveMoonlight Drive by A.R. Hadley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting story. I enjoyed it a lot. Loving music, the storyline between Dani and Nick/Nicki was intriguing and multi-layered, but it also takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions. I am glad there was a lot of background of Dani and Nick as kids, because that really sets the stage for the story and the flashbacks fill in the gaps. There could be some triggers related to addiction and some family relationship triggers. This was a quick and easy read and again, I really enjoyed it.

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Toasted (Love Burns Series Book 1) by Isobel Reed – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Toasted (Love Burns #1)Toasted by Isobel Reed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved this book! The instant connection between the two lead characters was on point immediately and I loved the humor, the romance, the character baggage…so much to love! Zach and Libby were such lovable and relatable characters and I was rooting for them from the beginning. It was a great romance story, but without the super spicy element that could’ve been there, but didn’t need to be. I thought it was a great romantic story and can’t wait to read the rest of the series. This is book 1, and it got me excited for more!

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The Ghostly Diva (Divine Vintage Series) by Sandra L. Young – Review by Jayme Raffauf

The Ghostly Diva (Divine Vintage)The Ghostly Diva by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another successful book by Sandra L Young. As the third book in the series, this was yet another great book. I loved the story of Justine and her connection to Liza for the museum event. I enjoyed the interaction between Justine and Jackson. I liked when the story went back to Liza’s experiences through her POV and all the layers around Liza and Jackson. Family dynamics, romance, hometown celebrity, and more. Lots of great things from this story!

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The Rake (Daughters of Dishonour Series) by Ava Bond – Review by Jayme Raffauf

The Rake (Daughters of Dishonour #1)The Rake by Ava Bond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting book. I did enjoy it. Elements of mystery, romance and old London (Lords, Dukes, and all of that drama), as well as a strong female lead in Margot. I loved the full cast of characters and all the details that set the tone and painted quite a picture of the different scenes throughout the book. Definitely has some spice in the romance aspect, but far more of it is based around the mystery that Margot and Lord Langley find themselves needing to solve. It was quite easy to get sucked into the story right from the beginning. Overall, I liked it and would be curious to see how the rest of the series unfolds.

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Breaking Apart (Finnerty and Liccione Mystery Series) by Wanda Venters, MD and Mary Rae, MD – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Breaking Apart (A Finnerty and Liccione Mystery, #2)Breaking Apart by Wanda J. Venters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this book to be very engaging and it kept me guessing until the end. This is book 2 in a series and I did not read book 1 first, but I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything by not reading book 1. I enjoyed the military aspect as a veteran myself, so that just added to the intrigue. Lots of characters with many layers to the story. This was a complex story line and at times was a bit confusing to follow, but overall it was a great book and I enjoyed it. I have some family that spent many years in the Denver area so that also added an extra layer of enjoyment to this book. Well done to both authors, they were well researched and did a great job with this story.

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What Eyes Can’t See (Bold Journeys Series) by Paulette Stout – Review by Jayme Raffauf

What Eyes Can't See: A spicy contemporary fiction novel of love, social justice, and belonging (Bold Journeys)What Eyes Can’t See: A spicy contemporary fiction novel of love, social justice, and belonging by Paulette Stout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a phenomenal book! I loved it from the very first few pages. From the hard times Barbara faced to set the stage for the story, to the heavy layers of injustice at the workplace, and then add in the romance…just wow! The roles that Barbara and Sebastian played in the book and how they each faced various struggles, sometimes having those struggles overlap was fantastic. I just couldn’t put this book down. I really enjoyed it. So many components came together to really make this a wonderful reading experience for me. Well done Paulette Stout!

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Mood Swings and Hockey Flings (Hot Flash Hookups Series) by Sylvie Stewart and Marika Ray – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Mood Swings and Hockey Flings (Hot Flash Hookups #2)Mood Swings and Hockey Flings by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 2 did not disappoint and was just as fantastic as book 1 in this series. Ben and Kaitlyn make a great duo in this story. Once again the authors nailed the hockey and sports storyline and this time, with the added element of a female sports agent. Lots of hilarious moments but also a blend of many other emotions, too. I cannot wait for book 3. Another very successful romantic comedy book for Marika Ray and Sylvie Stewart.

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Will You (Pretend) Marry Me (Swan Cove Series) by Christi Barth – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Will You Pretend Marry MeWill You Pretend Marry Me by Christi Barth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great story. I loved the double identity for Kaia/Abigail. I especially enjoyed her wanting to just have a normal life as a music teacher. As a teacher myself, that was a cute element. I liked the character and role that Everett played and the way the two main characters developed throughout the story, especially when unexpected obstacles came up. True to the rom com story line, but a nice lighthearted read. Very enjoyable!

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Finding Cheer (Magical Emerald Hollow Series) by Heather Schneider – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Finding Cheer (Magical Emerald Hollow #2)Finding Cheer by Heather Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Such a cute book. It was like reading a Hallmark movie and I loved it. Fun and lovable characters with an interesting storyline. This is book 2 of a series, but I did not read book 1 prior to this one. I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything by reading this as a stand alone book. Lots of layers to the story and I really enjoyed it. There are elements of grief, friendship, falling in love, Christmas magic (though it’s not a Christmas story), and some mystery. I would definitely read more from this series and this author.

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Perfect (Perfect Series) by Tricia Copeland – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Perfect (Perfect, #1)Perfect by Tricia Copeland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a good romantic story and definitely very different from what I was expecting. I was expecting a more traditional HEA book, but this was a very unique rendition of one. The author did a great job of creating such a fun interpretation of Chloe and finding what would make her happy. The unique writing style of the book made it a little confusing at first, but then once I realized what was happening, I enjoyed the format. An enjoyable, romantic read for sure.

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Kris & The Pirates (The Adventures of Kris) by Art Blegen – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Kris & The Pirates: The Adventures of KrisKris & The Pirates: The Adventures of Kris by Art Blegen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of several books in The Adventures of Kris series. I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending them to my son and his friends! A great chapter book for young elementary readers. The storyline was also really exciting, fun, and full of adventures. Kris is a great lead character and uses her imagination and her love of books to bring the reader along with her on some great adventures. I loved the connection with all the characters and animals in the story. This is a definite book recommendation for young readers. Well done!

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Sugar & Spice (Spicetopia Series) by Phoebe Alexander – Review by Jayme Raffauf

Sugar & Spice (Spicetopia #1)Sugar & Spice by Phoebe Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow, some definite spice for this Sugar & Spice book, but it was an entertaining read. An interesting story line and I enjoyed the undercover boss plot. Jolie provided an interesting character element and I loved that she was a single mom that was struggling…not just your “life is perfect” type of character. I liked the way that Cy (aka “Marcus”) struggled with his family, his undercover role and his feelings for Jolie. This was a fast read and certainly a spicy, contemporary romance story.

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