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The Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shannen Kern

The Messy KidsThe Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My kids always love it when I bring a Lois Wickstrom book into the house, so we were excited to dig into this one! We get to read about Chester whose mom wants him to clean his room. He plays around for a bit but much to his surprise he meets some alien friends! It’s a pretty fun and wacky adventure with Chester and his friends. The illustrations are beautiful and really add depth to the story. This has a great flow and isn’t too long so the kids should stay interested! My kiddos loved to play with their messy kid friends after we read this. I highly recommend picking this up and reading it with the young ones in your life!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Helpful Hudson by Dannielle Pickford – Review by Jennifer Reimer

Helpful HudsonHelpful Hudson by Dannielle Pickford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really good kid’s book. This is a picture book that I think was super cute, it has Hudson helping doing things for others and doing chores around the house. But one day he started to feel overwhelmed, and I would even say stressed. So as the family sees what’s happening the story teaches Hudson that he needs to also take care of himself with doing self-care which is important for himself. This book was well written and a very learning experience for children to care of themselves. The pictures were well drawn and illustrated to the book; it really painted the picture of what was happening. We could all use some self-care and that its ok for others to help us too not just a one way.

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Ladies of the Links (Ladies of the Links Book 2) by Haley Rhoades – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

Ladies of the Links #2Ladies of the Links #2 by Haley Rhoades
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored this story. Christy was such a great character and I loved seeing her growth as a character. She is such a great mom and the twins absolutely cracked me up! They were such adorable characters. Ryan was an amazing lead character and definitely brought the sizzle to the book. I loved all of the supporting characters in the story as well. They created a great group of friends who got along well and supported each other. I have not read the first book in this series, but I will be remedying this immediately and I can’t wait to read book 3! This was a great story full of humor and love.

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Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker – Review by Emma Samways

Lap Baby: Emotional Women's FictionLap Baby: Emotional Women’s Fiction by Amy Q. Barker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I quite liked this one, it follows Julie, Marie, Terry & Paige 20 years after a plane crash. Page really wants to move on but Julie can’t forgive herself for what she did on that flight. She has kept in touch with Paige over the years trying to pay penzance I guess. Paige doesn’t really want to stay in contact with Julie, as it’s a constant reminder of what happened but she does because she knows it helps Julie. We learn how each survivor has coped or not coped with the aftermath and how they’ve lived their lives afterwards and not everyone has dealt with it well. This was beautifully written and I will definitely be reading more from this author.

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The Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Donya Pedigo

The Messy KidsThe Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lois Wickstrom is a very creative author that always tends to slip in a lesson or fun learning opportunity in her stories. Her books are both whimsical and educational without feeling like a textbook or boring lecture. The artwork/ illustrations are also always so colorful and help the reader visualize and experience the story more easily as well. Her books have become a definite favorite of my family.

In this book we find Chester being asked to clean his room, but he would rather be doing other fun things. It isn’t until The Messy Kids show up that he really starts cleaning his room with their help. They don’t know how to properly clean his room though, so with encouragement from his mom, Chester teaches them. This is a really fun, easy read for younger kids.

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Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Donya Pedigo

Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters)Holding Up the Sky by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a cute story! Lois Wickstrom has dealt with such heavy topics as bullying and believing someone is being truthful in such a fun and creative way. I really loved how Colleen tried to make friends with the kids who made fun of her dad and her instead of retaliating. I have read several books by this author, but I do believe this is my favorite by far. I love how she always incorporates a lesson or fun learning opportunity into her stories. Her books are both whimsical and educational without feeling like a textbook or boring lecture and this one is no different. I honestly can’t wait to see what she comes up with next and how Nicolàs Milano will illustrate it. This artist has illustrated several of her books and they are all so colorful and appealing to the eye, drawing me even more into the story. I also really admire the way that they incorporate all different kinds of characters with different ethnicities, disabilities, and abilities into their stories and renderings. This book should be in the hands of every child as it conveys such great life lessons within a fun rhyming storyline.

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Brutal Nights (Hidden Valley Elite Book 4) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

Brutal Nights (Hidden Valley Elite #4)Brutal Nights by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brutal Nights picks up exactly where Brutal Days ends- so do not read it as a stand alone. Things have turned into quite a mess for Skylar and Damon. Neither was expecting things to go this way, but such is life. This book, like the others in the series, are a good mix of suspense and romance, with a bit of comedy and typical teenage drama. I did not want to put it down, and look forward to the rest of the series. The book alternates POV between Damon and Sky. I like that it continues to tie in the characters and story line from the previous books. The ending is a perfect happy ending for the characters involved, after a peak of action. Highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys YA romance.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

The Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

The Messy KidsThe Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My 7 year old son read Messy Kids to me. It was a cute book and good for his age. He only got caught on a couple words. He liked the book, and we have read a lot of books by this author. We always enjoy them. It sparked a good conversation after, how it’s okay to make messes as long as you clean them up in the end. He liked the illustrations and how each alien is different.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters)Holding Up the Sky by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My son and I read Holding Up the Sky together. It’s a good book for elementary school age (he is 7). We liked the rhyming, as it made the book flow and have a bit of Dr Seuss vibe. Like many of this author’s book, it has a good message to the kids- Do not be quick to judge. Colleen is teased for saying her dad holds up the sky. She figures out a way to prove it to everyone, and learns a little about herself at the same time. The pictures are colorful and fun.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

A Teacher’s Heart by Melissa Lavi – Review by Paula R Sayers

A Teacher's HeartA Teacher’s Heart by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Teachers are all different but one thing makes them the same…they all have a big heart. This is a sweet book about teachers. I feel like it would be a good book for children who are getting ready to head to school for the first time or even those returning for a new school year to read.

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Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Melissa Fink

https://www.amazon.com/review/RDK14HV1Z9LSV/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters)Holding Up the Sky by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holding Up the Sky is another great story written by Lois Wickstrom. I love how detailed her books are. Lois writes amazing kids books. The colors are always so bright and vibrant. The story had great world building and the plot was well thought of. My daughter really enjoyed the story and she is 9.

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https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3507923661

The Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Messy KidsThe Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chester is a young boy and like all young boys, he hates it when his mum asks him to clean his room, so he agrees, but decides to do the sandbox first. When he gets there, he sees a spaceship which is shaped like a fairground ride and four aliens with cat like faces pop out of it! When they start to play with the sandbox, Chester realises that they are more messy than him, so when they all go to his room and instead of tidying it, they just put all of the toys under the bed, Chester’s mum is annoyed and asks him to clean his room properly.

Will Chester’s mum believe him when he tells her that it was the aliens who did it wrong and will he be able to teach them how to do it right? This is a cute story which teaches an important lesson about the right and wrong way to do things which is easy to understand and shown in a charming way which is suitable for all ages.

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Reviewed by @roxsannel

Twisted Eros (Modern Mythica Book 1) by Aria Skylar – Review by Bobbi Wagner

Twisted Eros (Modern Mythica Book 1)Twisted Eros by Aria Skylar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed reading. It is a well written story about what happens on an abduction vacation and one steamy stranger. A romance story where the characters pull you into their world from the first word. They have great chemistry and growth throughout the story. I enjoyed how the author used details to bring a realistic feel to it. The characters are fun, steamy, engaging and made the story for me. They had me turning pages fast just to see what would happen next. I enjoyed their story and wanted to see them have a happily ever after. You don’t want to miss this story. I highly recommend this book.

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Review by @bjwagner

Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

Holding Up the SkyHolding Up the Sky by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another lovely book from the author. The story line was engaging, and the illustrations were colourful and bright.

As usual there is a lesson to be learned from this author’s stories and this one is an important one. Treating people with kindness no matter what they look like.

The story is fun and easy as well as being educational/thought provoking for children.

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Grand Slam (Ground Rule Book 3) by Bree Kraemer – Review by Bobbi Wagner

Grand Slam (Ground Rule Book 3)Grand Slam by Bree Kraemer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is part of a series that I have enjoyed reading from the first book. This is the third book but I highly suggest reading the previous two books as well. They are just as great if not greater. I have enjoyed reading this author’s books as I know that I am in for a journey of romance and a great story. This is a well written story about being from two different worlds but what happens when the attraction is greater. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into their world with ease. They are strong, supportive and add so much to the story. This is a romance story that is easy to read and hard to put down. I enjoyed watching the growth of the relationship as well as the chemistry between these two. I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it.

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Review by @bjwagner

The Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Christine Baranek

The Messy KidsThe Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Messy Kids
By: Lois Wickstrom

This is such a fun book about Chester. Chester is like every kid I’ve ever met, he doesn’t want to clean up, there are so many amazing things to do that are so much more fun. However, when he encounters the messy kids, his mom has the best idea. Why doesn’t he teach them how to clean up? This is really a great, easy children’s book that I know all kids will enjoy. I definitely recommend reading it as it is a fun bedtime story.

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The Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

The Messy KidsThe Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another great kids book by this author. As usual, the writing is clear and fun and the illustrations bright and colourful.

I know I was a messy kid as a child to the point my mum put photos/stickers on each toy box so I’d know where things went and it still made no difference. I did not want to clean my room. Having a kid that feels the same way as the main character makes them more relatable for other children, keeping them engaged with the story.

As usual after reading one of the author’s stories, kids walk away feeling like they learned something in a fun way.

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Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Christine Baranek

Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters)Holding Up the Sky by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holding up the Sky
By: Lois Wickstrom

This is another wonderful children’s story with really cute illustrations written by Lois Wickstrom. As with all of her books, they have really wonderful characters with a story line that teaches the readers a lesson. This story focuses on how people perceive others. Colleen’s dad is huge and it seems that he has been given the task of holding up the sky. Because of his giant size people are not always very kind to him. One day, her dad puts down his hands and what ensues is a wonderful lesson on how we treat people. I definitely recommend this as it has such a wonderful message!

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Twisted Eros (Modern Mythica Book 1) by Aria Skylar – Review by Kerry Baker

Twisted Eros (Modern Mythica Book 1)Twisted Eros by Aria Skylar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Right from the moment you start reading, this book has so much more to it than expected. I thought I would get hot and sexy and I thought I would get strong chemistry between the characters. What I didn’t expect was to also get a complex story that pulled me in instantly. There is a lot more going on in this book than I originally thought which is supported by strong and fascinating characters.
This is a new author to me and I enjoyed how they combined the mythical with the modern. It was a clever take on a well known story and it is one I thoroughly enjoyed. I am looking forward to whatever is next.

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My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez – Review by Kerry Baker

My Goodbye GirlMy Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an enjoyable and lighthearted story about two characters who are polar opposites and yet forge a strong connection. The nature of this story allows you to get to know them slowly and watch their relationship develop. It was great to see how things progressed.
I thought the story was written well. It had a slower pace than some books I have read recently which was a nice change. This is a new author to me and I found myself pulled into their writing style with ease. I will definitely be checking out more books from them in the future.

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The Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Dr. Anya Schultz

The Messy KidsThe Messy Kids by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Messy Kids book was okay. Like many kids, Chester doesn’t want to clean his room so he decides to go out and play instead. While playing, he sees the “Messy Kids” climb out of a merry-go-round that was in a tree. Chester follows them and watches them do a lot of things and he thinks they do them bigger and better. So when they “help” him clean his room he feels they do the same – make everything bigger and better. However, they really just hide their mess instead of cleaning it up. So in the end, Chester has to show them how to really clean and not make such a mess. As many of these author’s books, they don’t always make sense to me or they seem all over the place. The illustrations were cute. I am sure however that kids would find the Messy Kids to be fun little companions.

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Falling Again (Buckeye Falls Book 3) by Libby Kay – Review by Tausha Treadway

Falling Again: A Buckeye Falls NovelFalling Again: A Buckeye Falls Novel by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Falling Again (Buckeye Falls Book 3) by Libby Kay. I am loving this series so much and I’ve fallen in love with Buckeye Falls and its residents! This installment is about the Mayor of Buckeye Falls, Anthony and his wife Natalie. They have been a fixture in Buckeye Falls forever and Natalie is working on getting her business up and running. They have 2 young kids and are busy with their lives and business and have kind of lost each other in the process. When Anthony’s parents ask him to go and pack up their lake house so they can sell it he takes Natalie with him hoping they can rekindle their romance. They are like strangers trying to get back the relationship they once had. Can they get back to the love they originally had for each other? I could relate to this book so much as this can happen to married couples so easily! I recommend reading this sweet series. It can be read as a stand alone but I suggest reading them in order to get to know all the characters!

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Soul Redeemed (War of Destiny Book 5) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by La Toya Lewis

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

Soul Redeemed is the fifth book in the War of Destiny by Theresa Van Spankeren. This story finds Julia trying to learn how to control her powers so that she can prove to the resistance that she has rare gifts. When her plans are derailed by King Valentino she has to figure out how to learn enough control on her own to unify the resistance and save the villages that Valentino is holding hostage. I really enjoyed this story. I found the story to be confusing at first because I had not read the first books. When I went back and read the books in order, I understood everything much better and found great enjoyment in the book and series. The continued world-building even this far into the series is wonderful. It is very easy to get immersed in the story.

Julia is very determined to control her powers. She has to rely on her ka-tet to learn her powers. This story is very tense because she is also faced with trying to do all of this while worrying about her ka-tet being destroyed and learning fast enough to save the villagers. There is a great amount of action to keep you hooked. There is tons of magic and fun to be had. This has become one of my favorite fantasy stories.

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Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Moriah Venable

Holding Up the Sky (Giants and Monsters)Holding Up the Sky by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Colleen’s Dad walks around with his hands in the air, declaring that he is holding up the sky. Colleen loves her Dad and doesn’t like when kids make fun of her or her Dad. One day, Colleen’s Dad puts his hands down. Is he really holding the sky?

While reading, I was confused because I wanted to know if her father was really holding the sky.
When he took his arms down and just started relaxing in the grass looking up, I predicted that either his daughter would take over for him, or he wasn’t really holding the sky, it was more used as a metaphor. I wanted to know if he was really holding the sky or not.

I enjoyed the artwork and the different opinions of the people around them as well as the people’s thoughts and opinions changed over the course of the story.

It was very cute, but is also shows bullying and name calling and how these affect others. It also shows initiative with Colleen who wants others to get to know her Dad.

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Stalked by the Devil (To Kiss a Stalker Series) by Stacy-Deanne – Review by Moriah Venable

Stalked by the Devil: BWWM Thriller (To Kiss a Stalker Series)Stalked by the Devil: BWWM Thriller by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Melody Carter is struggling in life. She is unemployed, with no money and worst of all, she is living in the shadow of her successful fashion model sister, Sahara. Sahara has a new boyfriend named Keith Taylor that is worming his way into the lives of the two and Melody does not care for him.

Because he is a CEO and billionaire, people have a high opinion of them and think he is perfect. Melody sets up to prove them wrong. With controlling ways and the fact that several women he had been in relationship with have disappeared.

There were so many twists and turns in the book that I was not entirely sure where it was going. I thought it was going to be predictable but it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time reading.

I will be sure to read more by this author.

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Twisted Proposal (Central Florida Stories Book 3) by Victoria Saccenti – Review by Michelle Austin

Twisted Proposal (Central Florida Stories)Twisted Proposal by Victoria Saccenti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a twisted 5 star read. I was pulled in right from the beginning. This is Ethan and Siena’s story. Ethan has built his own world that meets his desires. But when Siena comes into the picture his plans change, to some very dark desirable ones. He has a need for revenge on his ex, but what happens when those plans start to look a little different? Siena has some baggage that she is working through. She ends up being the perfect sub for Ethan, will he be able to let her go when he’s done? Overall I LOVED this book. I really like the genre and the twists and turns. We get so much in this story, secrets, revenge, steamy scenes and so much more. The chemistry between the characters was great. The author does a great job of pulling you in with her writing. This book can be read as a stand alone but I suggest reading from the beginning. I look forward to reading more from this author and series. 1-click and get started today.

Reviewed by @mab54615
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The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Allyson Ware

The Master of DemiseThe Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I quite enjoyed this novel, even if it was predictable. I was reeled in from the start. The preface was eye opening and drew me in immediately. The interchange between characters was entertaining and well written. The main character was not likable in the slightest. I did feel bad for him but he was so lousy that it was sometimes hard to find the sympathy.

This is a very quick read. It took me a few short hours from start to finish. I do recommend for anyone looking for a well written mystery novel. I wish there was more to the plot or more detail to the characters, which is the reason for four stars rather than five. However, overall I do recommend!

Review by @aware
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Ladies of the Links (Ladies of the Links Book 2) by Haley Rhoades – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh

Ladies of the Links #2Ladies of the Links #2 by Haley Rhoades
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Stars
Ladies of the Links (Ladies of the Links Book 2) by Haley Rhoades

Ladies of the Links is a Second Chance Romance/Sports Romance that once you start reading its hard to put down. This is a new author to and I’m definitely going to go back and read the first book in this series. The attention to detail and fun, relatable and fully developed characters make the story come to life. Ryan and Christy haven’t seen each other in several years and things didn’t end well for him. Christy has been living her best life just as a mom can until she sees him for the first time in five years. There’s definitely chemistry between them. Christy works at the Golf club Ryan is a new member of. These two fall right back like there was no time list between. Can these twohrt their Happy ending? Will Ryan be a good father? I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. I’m definitely going to be going back to read the first book in this series. Im looking forward to reading more from this Author.

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Twisted Proposal (Central Florida Stories Book 3) by Victoria Saccenti – Review by M Policicchio

Twisted Proposal (Central Florida Stories)Twisted Proposal by Victoria Saccenti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow!! I was not expecting the level of kink in this book. I can’t say that I am offended, just unexpected. What starts out as a method of revenge for Ethan quickly turns into so much more. Innocent, not in the inexperienced way but the not guilty way, Siena accidentally walked into a hornets’ nest not knowing she was allergic.

Siena was just looking to find a way to support her family after they had lost everything and sought funding from the Big Seven. It was a last ditch effort. It did not turn out the way she expected. Instead of gaining 7 investors, she gained one benefactor but it will cost her more than just a percentage of her business. Is she willing to pay what is being asked?

Ethan was hellbent on revenge and righting the wrong that had been done that he lost his perspective. When he meets Siena, it becomes about more than just taking his pound of flesh. He never expected to feel protective. He never expected to feel possessive. It was just supposed to be easy, business like, casual, dirty sex. He could not let Siena in. It was too costly. Her family had left a wake of hurt the last time he let one of them in. When Siena’s brother puts her in danger, the situation changes. Ethan just is not willing to admit that his feelings are also changing.

There are some unexpected twists in this story. I hope that we have not seen the last of Strega, but in a totally good way. There are some unanswered questions. I guess that will bring you back for the next one. Couldn’t put it down. Excellent read!!

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Twisted Eros (Modern Mythica Book 1) by Aria Skylar – Review by Anastasia Dodson

Twisted Eros (Modern Mythica Book 1)Twisted Eros by Aria Skylar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book that i have read by this author and i enjoyed it. It was dark and gritty and definitely smutty. It was a retelling of the God of Eros and i always enjoy a good mythological retelling. The main characters are twisted but I enjoyed their story a lot. The author pulled me in and I didn’t want to put this story down. I am looking forward to more by this author in the future.

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