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This Time Around by Jane Suen – Review by Julie Johnson

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This Time AroundThis Time Around by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Katie made a choice when she was 18 that would change her life forever. She was madly in love with Chase and he her. However, Katie desired the city life, the big career, and all that comes with it. She made her choice but for the past ten years has wondered what might have been. When an invitation to attend a wedding in her hometown arrives, Katie isn’t sure she’ll go to the wedding, but she’ll go home to visit her mom and sister. Afterall, she wasn’t there for her dad and she regrets that too! Now that her mom is becoming more frail, it’s a great excuse to get away for the weekend.

Katie’s boss is a real piece of work! She is extremely demanding of Katie’s time and this is the first chance she’s had to get away. After a day with her sister preparing for the wedding that she’s now suckered into attending, she realizes just how much she’s missed life. Can she be the plus one to Chase at this wedding though? It’s been ten long, arduous years.

I was able to read this entire story in about two hours time. I couldn’t put it down! This is a new-to-me author but one that I will be looking for more of her work! I loved the characters and could identify with Katie on the level of being a workaholic. It’s a good thing when you can finally walk away from that life!

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Insatiable Darkness (The Vigilant Book 0) by LM Preston – Review by Julie Johnson

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Insatiable Darkness (Vigilant, #0.5)Insatiable Darkness by L.M. Preston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

EmVee has just moved to a new town with her family. Her parents own a gym, which caters to those of the MMA world. EmVee is training to be a MMA fighter. Everything about this town seems all cool at first, until school starts. There is a lot of suspicion, EmVee learns, about the house that her parents have chosen for them to live in. Some very sinister things have apparently taken place here. Oh, and this school is full of some hot boys but EmVee has sworn off dating. Guys don’t like her once they find out she’s a fighter. EmVee is trying her hardest to change her hardcore image but this girl at school is draining her social battery faster than she can handle. Can she shake her off while keeping this new image?

This is a prequel and a super short, one sitting read. I enjoyed the characters, the storyline, and the action that takes place. I look forward to reading more of this series!

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Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Julie Johnson

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Murder in the Lightning RoomMurder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cora is a 17 year old young lady who is about to finish up high school in Colorado Springs. Her instructor is giving her an opportunity of a lifetime…to work with Nikola Tesla! Cora is very excited about it but her mother really is not. After all, her mother is mourning the loss of a friend, that friend being the last assistant that Nikola Tesla had in his laboratory! Papers are missing, the lab is a mess, and Cora is put to tasks that she wasn’t expecting. She wanted in on all the excitement of conducting experiments but instead finds herself typing up reports and organizing receipts. It’s when Cora and her schoolmate Harrison start seeing that things aren’t adding up that they begin amateur sleuthing. A dinner party will change everything, including how Cora views some things in life.

This was an enjoyable book. It was a moderately fast read for me and I enjoyed the suspense of the mystery. I did figure out pretty early on who I thought the murderer was but did still have a few surprises along the way.

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Between Darkness & Light (War of Destiny Book 3) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Julie Johnson

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Between Darkness & Light (War of Destiny #3)Between Darkness & Light by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s been five years since Julia made a horrible choice and betrayed those she loved the most. They aren’t getting over it anytime too soon it seems but there are Hunters on the prowl and some of Valentino’s minions moving in on them. If this group can’t get it together, the ka-tet will fall apart and they will all lose their lives!!

Julia can’t seem to apologize enough for what she has done. It’s not until a young human comes and encourages Julia to do the hard things to see if she can get back in the good graces of her group. Will they accept her back? What about all these nighttime revelations she’s having? These Hunters….they are haunting Julia too. So many questions and not a lot of time for answers!

I enjoyed this book and read it fairly quickly. This one contains a lot of action, more so than the first two books in this series. We learn more about Matthew’s background, as well as Samuel’s. I’m really hoping to learn more about Mary Anne’s abilities….she’s got something very special! I’m looking forward to the next book in this series!

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Pursuit into Darkness (War of Destiny Book 2) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Julie Johnson

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Pursuit into Darkness (War of Destiny, #2)Pursuit into Darkness by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s been 70 years since Samuel and Julia met. 70 years since Julia’s life and destiny changed for eternity. She’s now part of the Resistance and she’s building up her strength, honing her skills and abilities through training, and she’s gearing up to take on the Vampire King. She’s a part of the ka-tet and together they can work to strengthen each other, communicate, and so much more. Things are becoming more heated and there is a lot of unrest happening around them. Julia will also get a fledgling of her own that she’s trying to train while still learning herself how to live in this paranormal universe.

I enjoyed the continuation of this story but there were a few parts of it that I felt dragged along. While this book can be read as a stand-alone, I would highly recommend reading in order to keep all the characters straight. It would also be very beneficial to know Julia’s back story prior to reading this one.

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Lost Soul (War of Destiny Book 1) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Julie Johnson

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Lost Soul (War of Destiny # 1)Lost Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Imagine you live back in the 1500’s and your lifestyle is pretty lavish. Julia is a young, 15 year old girl, who is “living the life” of a girl back then. She’s in love with her best friend, Adam, but he’s only the son of the household servant. He has no formality about him in the way that Julia’s parents expect. One day, Julia’s dad informs her that she is to marry Gregory. Julia is crushed! Gregory is not the kindhearted man that one would expect in a husband. He’s actually quite the contrary! During a very difficult time in Julia’s life, she is rescued by a boy named Samuel. Her life will change…but is it really for the better?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has some very deep, dark moments within it that will make you wish you could reach through the book and exact some revenge yourself. It also have some very moving moments. This is just the beginning of Julia’s story with much more to come!

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Love is Worth Fighting for (The Meraki Series Book 3) by Effie Kammenou – Review by Julie Johnson

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Love is Worth Fighting forLove is Worth Fighting for by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Have you ever read a book and wished you could smack some sense into the characters? That’s how I feel about this one! I’ve been anxiously awaiting this story about Krystina and Loukas as they’ve been mentioned many times in the first two books of this series. There is so much chemistry between them but neither want to really acknowledge it to the other for fear of ruining their friendship. Loukas has grown up next to Krystina and they have been friends since birth. Their mothers were best friends before the unfortunate passing of Loukas’s mother.

All Krystina wants to do is travel and take pictures….and stay as far away from Loukas as possible. However, he’s going through a lot right now and really needs a friend. Krystina has always been that friend but she wants nothing more than that.

Nicholas, who is Krystina’s soon-to-be brother-in-law, arranges a trip to Greece for the siblings. It’s time for them to see if Panos will have anything to do with them. Hopefully he’ll come home to his beloved, Yiayia and all will be right with the world.

The dreaded lockdown of 2020 happens and Krystina and Loukas find themselves in the house with just Yiayia. The rest of the family was in Loukas’s house after finding out that Yiayia, Krystina, and Loukas have all tested positive for the virus. Krystina and Loukas see to Yiayia as her health starts declining rapidly, but are they starting to see each other in a different light too?

This book was the most emotional of this series by far!! I was frustrated with Krystina and Loukas and their teenage antics, and I was trying to get an understanding of decisions made by Panos. The mystery finally comes to an end but it was not one that expected at all.

I’m excited to read book 4 and learn more about what Theo has been up to. I’m sure it will be just as entertaining as the rest of the family!

Fight for love….it’s worth it!

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Love By Design (The Meraki Series Book 2) by Effie Kammenou – Review by Julie Johnson

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Love by Design (The Meraki series, #2)Love by Design by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was super excited to read this next book which focuses on the story of Mia and Nicholas! I got to know Mia a little bit in the first book of this series so I was happy to see that she got her own story.

Mia has just landed her dream job at a luxury magazine. She loves doing photo layouts and travelling around to see the sites for her job. Her boss sure is one hottie though…but looks to be attached at the hip to someone else. Little does Mia know, Nicholas and his sister run the company together and often make public appearances side by side.

Nicholas is, let’s say, rough around the edges and makes it nearly impossible for Mia to work with him. She quits her job several times only to have Penelope, Nicholas’s sister, beg her to come back. They need her in order for this magazine to get the attention that it deserves.

This book further explores the mystery of Yiayia and Panos and is starting to really heat up. The fact that Nicholas is intrigued helps the family out in ways that they never dreamed could come about. We learn slightly more about Kallye and Max too!

I don’t know a lot about Greek culture but this book has had me intrigued. I do enjoy Greek food and I love that there are recipes scattered throughout. Reading this book, like the first one, I felt a part of the family. Let’s just say Nicholas better be glad Mia isn’t my sister in real life or we’d be having some words with each other!

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Love is What You Bake of It (The Meraki Series Book 1) by Effie Kammenou-Review by Julie Johnson

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Love is What You Bake of it (The Meraki Series #1)Love is What You Bake of it by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Meraki: Doing something with soul, passion, creativity, and love.

Kallie is a pastry chef running a little café where she features some of her family favorite pastries. Coming from a Greek family, there is plenty to choose from! She’s had a very traumatic experience that has her guarding her heart. Her family is super supportive but they think that she works entirely too much.

Max has returned to his hometown and is settling in as the newest beat cop on the street. He and his partner, Leo, are called the café that Kallie owns to pick up a license plate for identification. Electrical currents immediately start flying between Kallie and Max but neither are up for anything relationship-wise. Max is still trying to recover from his former wife’s antics on their relationship.

This book is full of romance, mystery, recipes, and second chances. This is my first read by this author but she is now on my favorites list! I very much enjoyed these characters and well as the suspense surrounding Yiayia (LOVE this woman!) and Panos. I felt like I was part of the family as I was reading this story! I’m excited to learn more about other members of the family and how things progress with each of them!

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Mermaid and the Water Magnifying Glass (Mermaid Science Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Julie Johnson

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The Mermaid and the Water Magnifying Glass (Mermaid Science, #3)The Mermaid and the Water Magnifying Glass by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maia, Fig, and Trezzie are teaching science again! This trio does a great job in such a simple way. However, Fig isn’t able to see Trezzie so things just seem to happen in front of her. Trezzie brings them a treasure that has a pattern on it but they can’t see it. With the help of a plastic box, they finally discovered that they had a trilobite, which is a fossil. The plastic box, along with some water, acted as a magnifying glass to help them see what they were holding.

I love this series and how it’s teaching simple lessons about science!! These are great books to share with your kids and grandkids. They would be great in a homeschooling environment as well.

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Levi (The Brothers of Creekside Ranch Book 1) by Edith Mackenzie-Review by Julie Johnson

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LeviLevi by Edith Mackenzie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Levi Delaney is one of three triplets who is an ex-Navy Seal suffering from PTSD. He’s agreed to hide Bella from her tormentor, Dmitri, on his Creekside Ranch under the guise of a nanny to his kid sister, Allie. While on the ranch, Bella is known as Nanny Becc, a name she totally hates. Becc has never been a nanny, a housekeeper, or a rancher but she finds a way to fit in for her safety. Levi and her are like oil and vinegar on most days! His brothers Amos and Elijah are pretty drawn to the pretty Becc right away but Levi feels something a little different when he realizes that.
When Becc breaks a major rule, things get a little suspenseful and scary for everyone involved, especially for little Allie. Can Levi ever forgive those who’ve wronged him?

I loved this book! The characters are immediately loveable and relatable. There is a good mix of suspense, humor, and romance. This is a very clean romance novel that I would be comfortable with my teenage daughter reading. I am excited to read future stories about Elijah and Amos! This being my second book by Edith Mackenzie, she is now a favorite author to me!

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The Vilification of Aqua Marine by Megan Mackie – Review by Julie Johnson

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The Vilification of Aqua Marine (Working Mask, #1)The Vilification of Aqua Marine by Megan Mackie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Imagine what it must be like to be the daughter of both a villain and a superhero! Insert Rhiannon, aka Aqua Marine. Her super trait is managing a cup of water at a time. Sounds pretty easy, right? It is until she uses it in a nefarious way and blows someone’s heart out. Where does that leave her now? Her mom, Black Fox, is excited to hear this new development and is hoping she can turn her daughter in a super villainess like she is. Will she succeed?

This book is a lot of fun! I kept equating parts of this book to one of my favorite movies, “Sky High”, where they are assigning superheroes versus sidekicks. Rhiannon would likely be more of a sidekick. My favorite character in this book though….hands down….no equals….is Overlord of the Dance. Every scene he was in had me laughing, hysterically at times, at the mental images that I was getting of him. I’d like to see him get his own story soon!

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Queen of Hearts (Heels, Rhymes & Nursery Crimes Vol. 21) By Natalina Reis – Review by Julie Johnson

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Queen of Hearts (Heels, Rhymes & Nursery Crimes, #21)Queen of Hearts by Natalina Reis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think every woman would know someone that she’d like to send to the Queen of Hearts!! This book was a little different than I expected, but I was not disappointed!! I have not read any other books in this series but I believe this little stand alone served it’s purpose…to get me to read the other books! 🙂

Mimi Mioyo (I love how that name rolls off the tongue) is fed up over the way that men can get by treating…or mistreating, women. Thus, she becomes the Queen of Hearts. Any man who can beat her at a game of Stolen Hearts has an opportunity with her that other men are clamoring for. The thing is, would they be if they knew what *really* happens behind the Queen’s doors?

Jac is a new guy in town who claims to be Mimi’s new dealer. Mimi isn’t sure she can trust anyone else but Jac does something to earn her trust…but will it ever be a complete trust? He is a man after all!

I love how this story intertwines so many facets of things that, unfortunately, happen today. While this is a work of fictional fantasy, I know that some will wish some of these events to come true in their own lives. There are some deep topics covered in this book but all in all, I found it to be a very enjoyable read on a stormy afternoon. I look forward to reading other books in this series!

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The Lie That Binds by Amy Argent – Review by Julie Johnson

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The Lie That BindsThe Lie That Binds by Amy Argent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

High school years are tough! Everyone is jockeying for position whether it be with the nerds, jocks, preppies, stoners, etc. Imagine all that stress and being dealt a huge health blow right before your freshman year. Nathan’s life is crumbling but no one knows except his family and his teachers.

Holly and her dad just moved to the area. Holly’s dad is the new chief of police. No pressure for a new kid, eh? So many challenging things going through Holly’s head until she confronts this bully Nathan one day. The next few hours will have her questioning that confrontation.

I really enjoyed this book and wanted to give it 5 stars. However, being the mother of two teenagers, the language and the pretty descriptive “adult” scenes left me challenged. I know that this happens in reality but I would not encourage my children to read this book. The characters are loveable and understandable. Some of them I loved more than others, some of them I grew to love more as I read and learned more about them. The nicknames for the various characters did become a little bit difficult to keep up with at times, especially when interchanging the real names with the nick names. I found “GothGirl” and Ivan to be my favorite characters and I love to read a spin-off about them!!

Overall, an enjoyable book. It encompasses many difficult topics and I believe they are all represented very fairly. This book kept my attention and I read it in 2 sittings (only because my Kindle died and I had to recharge it!).

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Distant Memories (Nurse Morgan Series Book 2) by Kate MacInnis – Review by Julie Johnson

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Distant Memories: A Nurse Morgan Series: Book TwoDistant Memories: A Nurse Morgan Series: Book Two by Kate MacInnis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nurse Morgan is back again, only this time has some arm candy in the new hot doctor working at her hospital. She’s finally got her new friends in her home to play by her rules and they have mutual understandings for each other and their personal space. Life is going well until Esmeralda shows up. I picture her looking like Elvira and she’s all over Dr. Caleb. Morgan isn’t going to stand for that and she’s doing everything she can to stand up to Esmeralda. Things at the hospital take some weird turns too.
This is a super fun book that was hard to put down! I can’t wait for more of Nurse Morgan!

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The Prospect of Death (An Alyssa Chalmers Cozy Mystery) by Carmen Radtke – Review by Julie Johnson

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The Prospect of Death (Alyssa Chalmers mysteries, #2)The Prospect of Death by Carmen Radtke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a great, cozy little historical murder mystery romance novel to spend my Saturday enjoying! Alyssa and several of her friends have travelled from Australia to Canada in the hopes of finding husbands. They depart from the boat and start learning their way around Run’s End when the hotel owner is found murdered. Alyssa would much rather be a sleuth than to be married and she’s running around trying to solve this murder. Meanwhile, the other girls are marrying off and making a life for themselves. Will Alyssa find her happily ever after or will she remain a sleuth?

I enjoyed this book very much. The characters were very loveable, the writing fairly plain (although there are a couple of scenes that I felt might have been abandoned), and there was a great balance of mystery and romance. I was not aware that this was the second book in this series so this can definitely be read as stand-alone but I’m going to go back and read the first book!

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Isabella Bride of Ohio: American Mail Order Bride by Debra Parmley – Review by Julie Johnson

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Isabella Bride of Ohio: American Mail-Order Brides SeriesIsabella Bride of Ohio: American Mail-Order Brides Series by Debra Parmley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isabella has recently arrived in Massachusetts by way of Sweden. She finds work in a textile mill, which burns to the ground shortly after she starts working there. Not sure where she will go or what she will do next, Isabella and a group of her friends start looking at ads for mail-order brides. Isabella starts writing with a man named Donald Jenks and it’s soon decided that she will meet up with him. Having already faced a lot of tragedy in her life and hearing her grandmother’s warning about how bad things happen in 3’s, Isabella is a little apprehensive about this trip to Ohio to meet her likely future husband. He sounds great on paper…has the perfect house, a great job, good life goals…everything a girl who had nothing could desire. Will this be her picture perfect marriage?

I love reading mail-order bride books!! They are some of my favorites. In a way, I liken it to a more modern trend of internet-brides….one of which I am! I met my husband online and we dated for a short time in real life before marrying. I went through similar emotions that Isabella experienced, only in a more modern time frame for sure.

There were a couple of unexpected twists in this book but ones that made the story much more relatable and realistic. The characters were very well developed and likeable (well, most of them were…). I understand that this book is part of a 50 book series. I’ll have to read some of the others in this series!

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The Know-It-All Pencil (Invisible Magic Wand Series Book 5) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Julie Johnson

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The Know-It-All Pencil (Invisible Magic Wand)The Know-It-All Pencil by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s Caspian’s “unbirthday” and today his grandfather has gifted him with a pencil. At first he’s confused and then he sees the paper. The pencil writes the word “apple” on the paper. He takes it to the breakfast table where grandfather says he’s going to have a star quality day. Caspian is on his way to school when he sees a walker out of place. He returns it to the rightful owner and is given something in exchange for his kind act. This goes on for awhile with various people until Caspian finally learns the meaning behind the star.

The illustrations are so bright and vibrant!!! I love that about a great children’s book. The story is very well done as well and brings up several talking points after the book has finished. I have enjoyed this book series so far!

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Jake the Growling Dog (Jake the Growling Dog Book 1) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Julie Johnson

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Jake the Growling DogJake the Growling Dog by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jake is a misunderstood dog. He growls all the time so everyone thinks that he’s angry or mean. He’s not though! He’s just thankful for all that he has!

This is a super cute, very short read that focuses on thankfulness. It includes some ways that readers can be thankful and show that to others. It also contains an activity to help children remain thankful.

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Jake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail (Jake the Growling Dog Book 3) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Julie Johnson

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Jake the Growling Dog Shares His TrailJake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jake loves his morning walks on the trail with Neet. One day they come across some new markings in the dirt and they become concerned. Who’s on their trail? Soon, they have friends to come over and they all end up making a new friend. Their new friend is a little different but they hardly notice because they are having so much fun!

This book focuses on acceptance of differences. There are a few activities in the back of the book to help the reader with how to deal with situations like these. The illustrations are fabulous and this is an excellent book for the young and not-so-young!

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Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan Series Book 1) by Kate MacInnis – Review by Julie Johnson

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Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan #1)Distant Heart Sounds by Kate MacInnis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Morgan is an experienced ER nurse, having over 20 years under her belt. Within the past three months, she’s had surgery to repair a brain aneurysm and things just haven’t been the same since. It starts out with a feeling, a tingling sensation, then progresses to much more. Is there someone in her house? She grabs the baseball bat and makes sure she’s alone…but is she really??
Trauma has a way of changing things in a person. Morgan’s been through a lot and her friend and co-worker Dr. Savannah thinks she’s come back to work too soon. The ER bustles with trauma and one day it smacks Morgan in the face when she realizes she is talking to someone who is dead! She can hear them, feel them, and sometimes see them. Is she going crazy?
Then Dr. Carter starts working at the hospital with her. Oh, he’s quite the hunk and all the girls are drooling over him. He sees things too. Maybe this isn’t as weird as it sounds….

This was a fun book to read! I am a former nurse who had to retire due to trauma. I’ve been in “haunted” hospital rooms so I could identify with some of the things that Morgan experienced. I’m still not fully certain that this isn’t all in my head but maybe one day we’ll know more! A very enjoyable book that had me longing to go back to the bedside!! I look forward to reading more books in this series.

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The Happily Ever After Bookstore by Bernadette Marie – Review by Julie Johnson

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The Happily Ever After BookstoreThe Happily Ever After Bookstore by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bookstores are amongst the happiest places on all the earth! Leona is the owner of the bookstore and she loves interjecting into the lives of others. When Sadie stops in to grab the newest book on the shelf and, quite literally, runs into Charlie who is buying a book for his grandmother, Leona works her magic and brings smiles to many faces.
Fiona is in a new town and stumbles into Leona’s bookstore. Fiona has a new book that’s about to be available to the public and Leona wants to host a book signing party for her. It’s that flyer in the corner that catches Fiona’s eye though. She’s not sure she ever wants to see her ex-husband Prince again. Then he walks into the store during the book signing…
The pipes are a mess and water is leaking everywhere but here comes Jon to the rescue. He’s always wanted to buy this old dilapidated building and fix it up but the codgy old man who owns it won’t even consider selling. Then the pipes burst and Leona’s bookstore is a total loss. Maybe the old man will change his mind now…

This story features 3 couples with a 4th playing a huge silent role! I was having a hard time believing in this story at first because, well, it just seemed to good to be true. However, the more I read the more I fell in love and by the end of this book, these characters almost felt like family! I have never read this author before but have since added all her books to my TBR pile! I love how she writes a clean novel that is enduring and leaves the reader feeling like they get their HEA after finishing the book!

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Deadly Sommer (Nora Sommer Caribbean Suspense Book 1) by Nicholas Harvey – Review by Julie Johnson

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Deadly Sommer (Nora Sommer #1)Deadly Sommer by Nicholas Harvey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nora is a native Norweigian who is living on the Grand Cayman Islands. She is a newly inducted Constable with the local police department. This particular area doesn’t see a lot of crime but Nora is chomping at the bit to do “something fun”. Little does she know that her life is about to change!
Entering a house that had a sign that lured Nora and her partner, Nora finds herself in a dangerous mind game with a girl’s life at stake. Can she maneuver through these grueling tasks that this insane kidnapper is demanding, while knowing that he’s livestreaming every step she takes?
This is a new-to-me author but not much longer! There are other stories that give a little bit more of Nora’s back story but I don’t feel like I missed a lot by not reading them prior. The author gives enough background to grasp the gist of her story. I do look forward to going back and reading other books that contain her character to see how she progresses. This book did not disappoint and kept me on the edge of my seat!

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Finding Starlight (Quimby Grove Book 1) by Shannon Nikole – Review by Julie Johnson

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Finding Starlight (Quimby Grove #1)Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is gonna stay with me for awhile! Ellawyn (I love that name!) is suffering at the hands of her abuser. She needs to get away but she’s scared. One day she musters up the courage and finds herself in Quimby Grove. Ella spends her time in the local bookstore, Starlight Books, eating lemon blueberry scones and drinking her vanilla latte. Benji, the elderly bookstore owner, takes a particular liking to her and they strike up a friendship. Things take a turn for Benji and he mentions that his grandson, Beckett, will be arriving soon and he’d like for them to meet up.
Beckett owns an advertising agency but truly misses his home at Starlight Books. He’s ecstatic that his grandfather has called him home for a visit, but at the same time very apprehensive. What could this visit mean for them? Beckett learns the reason and decides he’s going to stay on for awhile and conduct his business affairs remotely. Then he sees her…the girl who stays in Starlight all day long and he has to meet her.
From the moment they meet, Beckett and Ellawyn have explosive fireworks all around. Then the messages start up. The threatening calls, notes left on doors…Ella thought she’d left all that behind. Can she open up her heart to someone else? Is she ready to make the next step in her life?
This book, as I previously mentioned, is going to stick with me for awhile. These characters are very relatable and loveable! I laughed, I cried, I even wanted to throw my book a few times while learning more about the residents of Quimby Grove. Benji completely stole my heart and I really hope the next book in this series is about Max.

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Oliver, A Story of Adoption by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Julie Johnson

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Oliver: A Story about AdoptionOliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oliver is a sweet lil one who has several questions. The biggest one is why he was adopted and what it might have been like to stay with his original family. He gets in trouble with his dad and has some time to reflect on his emotions. There is a lot going on at once in his little mind! Ultimately, Oliver realizes that he is loved and cared for right where he is.

This is a super cute book to read with the littles in your life (or have them read it to you!). The illustrations are good but I would have liked to have seen a little more color. This is a great way to have conversations about the different types of families, as well as how to deal with different emotions one might be feeling.

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Reviewed by: @Faithfulgirl4

The Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace (Mermaid Science) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Julie Johnson

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Mermaid and the Ice Cube NecklaceMermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So many great things to say about this book! The illustrations are beautiful and very colorful, first and foremost. They will capture the eye and grab the reader’s attention! I love the story too! Maia and Fig are having a picnic and Maia is showing Fig how to make an ice cube necklace. Fig has a lot of questions about the ice cubes….why are they getting smaller…how do they float on water…how to blow the hole to add the string. Then, Fig falls into the water and the necklace is thrown to her to help her to safety. I love how the author intertwines science with safety in this cute little book! The last page goes into more scientific depth about ice and water. There are elements in this book that will appeal to all young learners!

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Reviewed by: @faithfulgirl4

As Close to Perfect by Maria Jane – Review by Julie Johnson

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As Close to PerfectAs Close to Perfect by Maria Jane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bree can’t seem to catch a break in the dating world. She’s created her dating criteria list and vows to never deviate from it again. After all, the list is a compilation of those men who have crushed her! She is trying to put herself out there and enjoys playing tennis. While playing, she meets Nate and they become best friends.

Nate is everything on Bree’s “do not date” list and then some. She keeps him friend zoned while dating a couple of other guys. Nate is always there to pick up the pieces though! Bree’s dad sets her up with Scott and she meets him at one of the basketball games she coaches. They totally hit it off and Nate backs away to give them space. However, the reader can sense that he is totally heartbroken!

After a few family get-togethers, dates, out-of-town excursions, Bree is finally starting to see what it is that she wants out of life. Can she ever find her perfect man?

I enjoyed this contemporary romance novel and read it in two sittings. It is a fairly fast-paced read that will keep the reader entertained, always wondering what will happen next. The characters are very likeable and relatable.

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Reviewed by: @faithfulgirl4

PREMEDITATED: A Trust Betrayed, Lives Sabotaged, A Love Undaunted (Agents of Justice Book 2) by Susanna Haymond – Review by Julie Johnson

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PremeditatedPremeditated by Susanna Haymond
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anne’s very dedicated to her work to keep drugs off the streets. She’s organizing this huge event that will help to teach kids alternatives to a life of drugs and addiction. It’s after a doctor’s appointment and finding out that she needs to start taking B12 shots that she doesn’t feel well.

Grant and Josh are DEA agents assigned to this case to try to bring down this drug lord. Grant’s super interested because Anne is one of his closest friends. Grant’s former partner, Greg, is engaged to Anne, adding yet another layer of importance.

Becker is the drug lord of the past but has this person resurfaced again? Did they ever really go away? It’s up to Grant and Josh to get all of this figured out and before anyone else becomes addicted to this drug kronilan.

Premeditated was gripping from the start! I only put it down once and that was difficult! The characters and the story is very relatable, yet very scary. This is a very clean, inspirational read that does quote some scripture and has religious themes throughout. I appreciate this author writing such a gripping novel in a way that doesn’t make me cringe with horrible language!

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Reviewed by: @faithfulgirl4

Caging Grace (Grace Series Book 1) by Carsen Lane – Review by Julie Johnson

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Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1).Caging Grace (Grace Series, #1). by Carsen Lane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is actually 4.5 stars!! I never thought I’d enjoy a book about a MMA fighter but I wanted to expand my reading genres so I reached out for this one. I’m so glad that I did!

Grace is a 20 year old underground fighter. She’s been fighting her whole life. Her parents are illegal immigrants to the US and her mother has schizophrenia. When she was much younger, Grace’s dad died. It’s not initially known the details but plays a role in Grace’s thoughts about fighting. Grace is left to defend her younger sister and mother. Having to hold down 3 jobs just to support them, Grace really has no time to herself and has never done anything for herself.

When a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes around, Grace can’t refuse it. She knows what this could mean for her family…good or bad. She’s a fighter and she’d bound to prove it!

There are elements of romance in this novel but nothing that screams romance novel. It’s all very subtle and I found myself rooting for a certain someone. I would love to read more about Dar, Mason, and Lizzy’s characters and I hope they will get books of their own!!

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Reviewed by: @faithfulgirl4

Illegal by K.J. Gillenwater – Review by Julie Johnson

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IllegalIllegal by K.J. Gillenwater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hold onto your passports!!! This book gripped extremely hard and was very difficult to put down the couple of times I had to!!

Selina has self-deported back to Mexico from her home in Tucson. She wants everything to be on the up-and-up, especially after finding out her entire life has been a huge lie. She doesn’t know the language and is struggling to go through the proper channels when her life changes drastically.

Wyatt isn’t loving his job but knows that the work he is doing at the Embassy could lead to something better. It’s when the beautiful woman walks into his office and a mysterious phone call is made that causes life to get interesting.

What lengths would you take to protect someone you just met?

Be ready to sit down and dive in because this one grabbed me from the first line and didn’t let up until the end. I’ve still got some questions though….

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Reviewed by: @faithfulgirl4