Broken. by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you have read Bared you’ll love Broken. It starts out with the same tragedy but from Indy’s point of view. This is the second in the Green St Girls series but can be read alone. I’m stickler for the name Gideon so I’m pretty partial to this book. The characters are written so well. Read both books in the series in one day.
The Silent Woodsman by Cat Treadgold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is book 1 in Olympic Peninsula series.
This is a sweet contemporary romance. This is quite a unique story and the author does an amazing job with the characters. You can’t help fall in love for them both as you learn their stories.
Joe is a country singer who has been hiding away in a log cabin trying to recover from surgery on his voice. He’s been told he can’t talk until his voice is healed else he risks losing his singing voice for good.
While he is hiding a young woman appears on the doorstep. She is drenched from the storm so he offers her shelter.
Ali is a young womnen struggling to come to terms with her brothers disappearance and maybe death. She visits the woods trying to connect with him but when the weather turns she finds herself lost and in need of shelter.
When she turns up on the doorstep of Joe’s cabin she doesn’t know who he is, and when he offers her shelter she takes it. Over 2 days they grow close but what happens when they leave and go back to their own lives?
Will they both be able to move on from each other? What happens when the feelings are too strong to ignore? After over a year will their connection still exist?
This is a moving, heartwarming story which has so many twists and turns you never know what to expect. The connection that was built between Ali and Joe even know he could not communicate with words made it all the more unique as he can only communicate by writing but the connection between them was very strong and felt from every interaction they had. I can’t wait to read more.
How to Catch Little Boys and Eat Them by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A super cute story. A cross between Jack and The Beanstalk and Hansel & Gretel, but retold to be more modernized. My 3 yr old nephew loved it. I feel that older kids would probably enjoy it more, as they would understand it a bit more. The pictures are cute and engaging. Awesome world building and interactions between the characters. I would absolutely recommend this for a classroom book for grade 1 & 2 teachers.
Review by Manda Kelly 2023
Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a retelling of the beloved and well known children’s tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This time a little more science has been thrown in for more educating fun! Goldilocks helps the Bear family in this version instead of being an intruder.
This author writes the best kids stories. I wish I had known about her when I was a preschool teacher. Now, I am looking forward to sharing her stories with my granddaughter and future grandchildren..
Reviewed by @shannonlovesbooks
Planting Hope by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
Planting Hope by Jennifer Raines
Planting Hope is a Contemporary Romance that is fast paced and hard to put down once you start reading. This is a story about love,loss and hope. Holly is a nurse and loved it till she witnessed a horrible accident that had her feeling like she did as a child of not belonging anywhere. Kit is a gardener who is doing a research project in which he needs a nurse. Can gardening help one heal after domestic violence? That’s what kit is trying to figure out. These two botj have hidden issues. But can he see past her wild hair and her free spirit? Will these to give Romance a chance? I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. I’m looking forward to reading more from this Author.
Murder in a Gated Community by Laura Koerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Murder in a Gated Community is an entertaining short story about life after retirement. When all you have to worry about is which neighbor is doing what, there is bound to be some drama involved! The quirky characters match wits as they fight over things like community gardens, pets, and who does what behind closed doors. If you are looking for a quick but entertaining read, look no further and pick up this story!
Oathbreakers Anonymous by Scott Warren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was such an original, laugh out loud, action packed book. I loved it. The cover of the book did throw me off at first, but it really was worth the read! The characters and the ability that the author has to write these amazing stories, and overall have the ability to really grab you and put you there!
Broken. by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4.5/7 Stars
I read this and Bared in one day. This is such a good series. The author really did her thing with these books. They are very well written and so good. I wish this was a tv series 😭.
Bared. by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4.6/5 Stars
This book is sooo well written. It’s so good and captivating that I couldn’t put it down. It gives me Kennedy Ryan vibes in terms of the writing and the plot so if you like her books you’ll like this one. I went ahead and read the 2nd book and ugh, I can’t wait for more.
Broken. by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It’s been a while since I read book 1, but guess what I like book 2 better. Broken has so much more to offer. The author doesn’t disappoint in the 2nd installment of The Green Street Girls. I would think there will be one more book since there’s one more girl left, but we shall see.
These books are a series but are very much standalone novels as well. Do you benefit from reading both, absolutely, but it’s not required.
These girls fought from the trenches to where they are today. This book specifically focuses on Indigo. And Indigo is in the exact state as the title Broken. She’s been abused in ways that could trigger some, so read with caution. Never in a million years did she think the one that could set her on the path to being mended is right under her nose.
Enter Gideon, he best friend’s baby brother, who just happens to be living on her property. We he’s tasked to protect from threats on her life, things change and evolve.
How does Indigo respond to how she feels for Gideon?
The author wrote the perfect man in Gideon. Sweet, friendly, protective, caring all the things women dream of.
But the justice the author did Indigo is leaps and bounds ahead of that. The growth and mending the dhe experienced throughout was written beautifully.
This book had me wanting more. Though I figured part of it out early on, it was the chemistry between the two characters that kept me intrigued.
A wonderful series that exudes “girl power.” If you’re looking for a book or series with strong female characters, these books are for you!
The Silent Woodsman by Cat Treadgold
Narrated by Cat Treadgold
I always love finding new to me authors, there is something about discovering how they write.
I found myself getting lost in the book as I was listening to it, think part of it was her voice. I would get so caught up that I forgot a few times that this wasn’t set in current times and couldn’t figure out why they weren’t using the internet to search, etc. for a second then I realized.
Allie and Joe fit together the moment they met and fate continued to intervene to find a way to get them together. It wasn’t the easiest of paths for them but it worked in the end. I feel like everyone deserves a Becca in their life. She seemed to be the voice of reason and fiercely protective of Allie. I have my own Becca and I would be lost without her.
I was intrigued by the twin connection and have seen it in real life between my mother in law and her sister a few times. That is definitely an interesting bind.
I’m looking forward to reading/listening to more books by Ms. Treadgold and getting to know the next one to fall.
Sage Advice by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sage advice was such a fun book. It took me right back to high school and it’s drama. I loved the way everything unfolded, but really wished prom night went a little longer. I want to see what happens with all of Pyper’s friends- Leah, Will, Sam and Brooklyn. So, if you plan to write a sequel, you’ve got an audience for it! Landen and Pyper were well written and very likeable characters. I liked the light hearted feeling of the book, with some funny parts and serious parts. I like how the story of Jason unraveled and the resolution with Travis. This book could be enjoyed by teen and up and I look forward to more from the author. I really like her style.
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
Sage Advice by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is my first time reading Cori Cooper so I was pleasantly surprised by Sage Advice. This coming-of-age, clean romance finds Pyper in her Senior year of high school and struggling to find the balance in being able to offer great advice but being unable to take any advice to heart. Cori Cooper did an amazing job capturing the “essence” of high school, from the drama and angst to the peer pressure and young love. I felt like I was walking the halls of high school all over again. The characters she created are so believable, likeable, and realistically flawed. This fast-paced read was very wholesome and relaxing and I can’t wait to read more by Cori Cooper!
Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines
By: Lois Wickstrom
Once Again, Lois Wickstrom has taken a traditional fairy tale and put a science spin on it. She did not disappoint in this retelling of Goldilocks and the Bear Family. This time she is helping the bear family fix things in their house. She does this using simple machines. Children will definitely be learning about simple machines and will enjoy learning about this new tale. I definitely recommend this story for all home and classroom libraries.
Love Bites More by T.L. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have read some of the author’s previous works, but I had not started the Darkness and Light Duology series, but luckily, this is a standalone story, so I was able to dive right in. I loved how steamy the book got and the chemistry between Arwyn, Elan, and Hassan was fire. I loved how humorous the story would get and I always love a story with appropriately used swear words. I definitely enjoyed how well written and developed the characters were and the story line absolutely makes me want to check out the rest of the series. I loved how well the romance was able to fit into the fantasy, action, adventure story filled with magic!
The Secrets they Hide: A Commissario Scala Mystery (Book 2) by P J Mann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Secrets They Hide
By: P.J. Mann
This is an Inspector Scala Book. It is my first, but it most definitely won’t be my last. Inspector Scala is definitely an enjoyable main character who keeps the book exciting. In this book a cryptic message leads Inspector Scala to a series of murders and it is him that must find the killer. This is filled with twists and turns and it definitely kept me on my toes. I have to say that the highlight of this author is the dialogue. Every character has amazing banter back and forth. You are sucked into the dialogue and it is not hard to read at all. I definitely recommend reading this!
Sliding into Home: A Secret Baby Sports Romance by Lauren Fraser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So, I picked up this book on a whim, needing something lighter than the dark stuff I have read recently and this book did not disappoint!! I read this book in one afternoon, being sick, I decided to use the day to be lazy and try to feel better. There are moments in this book that will anger you, frustrate you, and most of all make you laugh out loud. I love the chemistry between Jeff and Kia, then add Max into the mix and the family dynamic is just fantastic. What I did not realize when I started or even finished this book is that it is book 3 in a series. YAY I am going to check out the others too!!
Cruel Start by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Cruel Start
By: Isla Vaughn
Once again, Isla Vaughn does not disappoint. I have read every last one of the Hidden Valley Elite books and every last one is a page turner that is filled with drama, suspense and spice. All are dark, but to be honest, I like that in this series and I feel like it works perfectly well. Isla Vaughn is the queen of character development and I feel has absolutely thought about each and every aspect of her characters before she even begins writing. Her characters are flawed but in a very relatable way and they all show growth and evolution. Cruel Start is once again a fantastic addition to the series. This is the beginning of Aspen and Phoenix’s story and I am left waiting with bated breath for the second part of their story. This book is absolutely fantastic and I cannot recommend reading it and the rest of the series enough!
Sleeping with the Enemy by Deborah Garland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sleeping With The Enemy
By: Deborah Garland
This book is absolutely phenomenal. It sucked me in from the very beginning and I did not want it to end. The author weaves an intricate story with fantastic details that I truly enjoyed. She did an excellent job developing the characters as well. Riordan and Priscilla were very well rounded characters and it was clear that there was a lot of history between them. Watching them interact with this in mind was so much fun. This book really brought it all – spice, suspense, tension, and amazing banter. This was an amazing forced marriage story that I truly enjoyed. I definitely recommend it.
Flowers of Evil by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Flowers of Evil
By: N.L. Holmes
This seems to be the start to a new series and I am so glad. It is a cozy mystery set in Egypt. I love that the author is an archaeologist because it lets me know that the information about Egypt is going to be well researched and accurate. The two main characters are female healers. They were healing the king before he died. He left them with one word before his passing. They are determined to find who killed the king and they know that the word he said was a clue. In addition, the ladies are facing that their competition is doing much to take them down. But this isn’t enough to dissuade them from solving the murder and keep their careers going. I have to say that the author’s greatest talent is in her descriptions of ancient Egypt. She leaves nothing to the imagination and makes sure that there is a glossary for any unfamiliar terms. She paints such a vivid picture with her words that it is easy to forget that you are reading about a time long ago. I definitely recommend reading this. I cannot wait to see more of this series!
https://www.amazon.com/review/RTLTS5ZQWXYPI/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
Oathbreakers Anonymous by Scott Warren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was my first book I read by this author and he didn’t disappoint. The book had my interest and attention from the very 1st page to the last. Oathbreakers Anonymous was full of adventures and action. This book was a page turner for me and had me wanting to know what was going to happen next. The world building and characters was well thought out. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
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The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Julia Xero is a young woman wanting more from life, she is in a dead end job which pays badly and has the worst boss and coworkers she can imagine, so when a job becomes available with a company which cleans up crime scenes, she immediately applies. While she keeps her fingers crossed that she will get the job, she is still shocked when she does, especially when she sees the building she will be based in and how glamorous it looks, it doesn’t quite fit with the job description.
When she goes through the training, nothing seems to be too amis, apart from seeming too good to be true, she just wants to fade into the background in her usual way, but the people around her are not even close to how introverted she is. When she is out on a job with her partner in cleaning, it looks like it will be a normal shift, that is until a message comes through and the tension in the van goes through the roof.
It is the one thing she had not been trained for and so Julia is thrown into a baptism of fire before she has been deemed as ready when they are called to a decapitated body on a rooftop. While she is waiting for the all clear to come up, something lands beside the van and all Julia can see is a mouth full of sharp, pointy teeth glowing in the street outside her window and it doesn’t look human in any way!
This is where Julia us introduced to the Secret Humankind and the true nature of their job, to clean up after their attacks. This is then followed with the information that when she thought she had fallen asleep in the training videos, it turns out that she had been implanted with a small explosive devise which could kill her if she reveals what she now knows.
This throws Julia for a complete loop and she cannot process what she has just learnt, it is everything she didn’t want to be again, under someone else’s control and without her free will, but will Julia be able to reconcile with this new reality, or will the need to escape override the joy of finally having a job she had always wanted? This is a fantasy adventure which is full of secrets, revelations and supernatural beings galore as one young woman navigates through a web of intrigue to discover the information she needs to survive in this story which will leave you thrilled and wanting more.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
Twisted Eros by Aria Skylar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Twisted Eros
By: Aria Skylar
I will say, this is not the normal book that I would pick up. As a general rule, I don’t pick up paranormal romance books. But something in this one called to me. This is a retelling of the story of Eros and Psyche. Which is something I did not pick up on when I got this book. It was slow to pick up but once it got going I really enjoyed it. I definitely haven’t read any Greek Mythology that features BDSM, but this retelling sure does. The author proved some major character development in both of the main characters – Eros and Psyche. Which I think is the best quality of the book, the character evolution. I definitely enjoyed this story.
Shadowed Obsession: An Action-Packed Romantic Suspense Thriller by Mavery Ellscott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Shadowed Obsession
By: Mavery Ellscott
This is the start of a brand new romantic suspense series that I truly loved and cannot wait for the rest of the books to come out. The plot is excellent and filled with twists and turns that make you keep wanting to read more. The characters are so very well developed. Kiera is working for a PR firm and has a stalker. However, the police department has been unsuccessful in finding the stalker. She isn’t your typical damsel in distress though and she enlists the help of her neighbor. Cade is ex special forces and more than willing to help. But what the author does even better than the suspense is writing in the attraction between Cade and Kiera. It is undeniable from the start. It kept me hoping that not only they would find the stalker, but also that they would get their happily ever after. I felt that Cade and Kiera were very well written and that the plot was well paced. I definitely recommend picking this one up for fans of romantic suspense.
Murder in a Gated Community by Laura Koerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Murder in a Gated Community
By: Laura Koerber
This book reminds me a little of a real housewives series if the housewives were older. The story is about older people in a gated community dealing with each of their own very complicated issues. The friendships within this community definitely seem real and the fact that many of these characters seem to have no filter also makes it seem very realistic. This is filled with funny anecdotes and little stories of each of the neighbors. This is just a fun read of a neighborhood. I truly loved this story and the characters within it.
Tequila Midnight by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Tequila Midnight is the first book in the Southwest Suspense series by Kathryn Dodson. I really enjoyed this book, it has a lot of what I look for in a good read, there was a mystery, suspense and a good romance (I want to find myself an Angus!). The story follows the main character Jessica as she gets roped into working for a Mexican criminal to find his missing daughter, however it seems like it may be more difficult than she thought. Throughout this, she is also trying to deal with her own issues, reeling from her parents abandoning her, Jessica tries to use her own kind of therapy to cope with her pain. I found this book engaging and didn’t want to put it down. I think this is a positive start to what will be a great series and I want to read more.
The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a magnificent start to the series! I absolutely love our main character, Julia, as she is a strong, no-nonsense female lead. She has endured many hardships in her life, but she never lets that stop her. I was pulled in from the very first chapter and couldn’t read fast enough to see what would happen next! I feel like the characters meshed perfectly and the flow of the story read so naturally. I can’t wait to continue this series as this author has already proved that they know exactly what their audiences wants. I highly recommend picking this up and giving it a chance, especially if you like sci-fi/supernatural thrillers!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
The Silent Woodsman by Cat Treadgold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Silent Woodsman
By: Cat Treadgold
I was absolutely fascinated by this story. In the beginning I felt it seemed a little far fetched. However, as the story progressed, I truly fell in love with the characters and how Ali was really hoping for everything to work out. I felt like in the beginning Ali seemed very naive but as I kept reading, I realized she had a tough life and really wasn’t very trusting, her time in the cabin in the woods was just an accident. However, there were definite subplots that I loved more and wanted to really find out even more about. Ali’s recurring dream. I love that despite being raised in a foster home Ali had a positive outlook in her life and had definitely worked hard for the things she had. She also had a friend who cared about her whose family cared for her as her own. I couldn’t help but think about how lucky she really was.
JJ was the man in the woods and I really loved his character. He was someone who really wanted a simpler life. I loved that part of what he loved about Ali was that she had no clue who he was. I also related to how there were areas of his life he didn’t feel he had any control over. I loved their overlapping story lines and how they both tried to move on from their time in the woods but they really couldn’t .
I’m glad that this is the start of a new series. I cannot wait to see where the series grows and develops from here! I definitely recommend it!
Hole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a quick paced read which is funny at times but also holds a meaning that some children may miss. I would say it is geared towards children aged between 8 and 12 because they will love the humour and the antics that Lizza gets up to where as the older children will be able to grasp the message that every action you take has a consequence and sometimes the consequences don’t just effect you but the people around you as well.
Lizza is a 12 year old girl who is passionate about animals. She loves to rescue them and heal them much to her mothers dislike. Lizza starts to act out though when her father becomes a taxidermist. Lizza hates the thought of what her dad does and she goes out of her way to make that clear. But things take an even weirder turn for Lizza when her father moves them to live in a tourist attraction called Hole N the Wall. Now not only does she have the embarrassment of her school friends realising where she lives but everyday strangers tour around her home.
Thinking of a way out of this terrible situation is contact’s animal rights activists and environmentalist in the hope they will make her father quit his business and move them back to a proper house.
However things don’t go as she imagined and the consequences for her actions have a negative effect on everyone around her.
Lizza’s character is strong willed and determined but like most you people she is misguided and doesn’t understand that her actions will have consequences and sometimes it isn’t the consequence you were hoping for.
A Toast for Laurent by Theresa Paolo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Toast for Laurent
By: Theresa Paolo
This is a very cute second chance romance filled with really sweet characters and a plot that just sucks you in from the start. Phoebe and Laurent made a pact in high school that if they weren’t married by the time they were 40 they would marry each other. But really they didn’t think that it was serious. Plus, doesn’t everyone make those promises with someone? This book explores what happens when one person wants to hold the other to that promise. However, the part that no one realizes when they make the promise is that by the time they are 40 they will be so different and changed by heartache and rejection. Watching Phoebe and Laurent navigate their fear of rejection and their changes from their previous relationships is part of the charm of the book. They have an undeniable chemistry and have to figure out whether acting on chemistry will be worth the risk. I definitely recommend reading this sweet book!
