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Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Katie Matthews

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saving the gingerbread housesaving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a lovely take on the traditional tale Hansel and Gretel. Again as with other books by this author the story was well written, a nice pace and beautifully illustrated. This would be a great addition to read alongside the original tale and see how the two stories differ and how the characters were different in each one.
This was a fun and engaging read and a great story for young children to enjoy!

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The Forlorn Cowboy (The Studs of Clear Creek County) by Stacy-Deanne – Review by Katie Matthews

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The Forlorn Cowboy by Stacy-Deanne (The Studs of Clear Creek County)The Forlorn Cowboy by Stacy-Deanne by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy this authors writing. She creates such likeable characters and I find the time period in which she sets her stories as well as the places really interesting to read about. I loved the characters Christopher and Greta, I was really rooting for them the whole way through, they had such passion and chemistry between them. The books in this series are only short novellas but they certainly don’t lack anything. With easy to follow storylines and fast flowing writing they really are a pleasure to read although I admit I would happily read a full length novel about The Studs of Clear Creek County!!
Another fabulous read from this author and I am definitely looking forward to more from her in the future!

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Doctor Frank Enstein (Doctors of Eastport General) by C.A. King – Review by Katie Matthews

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Doctor Frank Enstein (Doctors of Eastport General)Doctor Frank Enstein by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve read quite a few book from this author and I am really enjoying this new Doctors of Eastport series. The stories might be on the shorter side but they certainly are full to the brim of great characters, dreamy doctors and definitely some steamy moments along the way! I loved the characters Frank and Barbara, they might not have had the best first meeting but they had a good connection and definitely some humours moments between them.
I would definitely recommend this book, series and author! I can’t wait for more to come!

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His Protector by Sara Vinduska – Review by Katie Matthews

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His ProtectorHis Protector by Sara Vinduska
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an introduction to this new author! His Protector was a wonderful read and in all honestly such a refreshing read. I loved the storyline for this book and it really was so well written. The relationship between the two main characters was so genuine and believable. I think given the plot a slow burn worked perfectly, I think anything else wouldn’t have felt right and I’m so glad the author chose to write their relationship that way, The suspense that ran through the story was great and my attention was definitely kept the whole way through.
This really was a great read and I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author again in the future!

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Falling for You (Buckeye Falls Book 2) by Libby Kay – Review by Katie Matthews

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Falling for You (Buckeye Falls, #2)Falling for You by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so excited to pick up the second book in this series and it didn’t disappoint! I fell in love with CeCe and Evan straight away – they were both such relatable and down to earth characters, very much so like the characters in book 1. CeCe was hurt by what had happened in her past so think it’s perfectly acceptable that she is so independent and has her walls up to try and protect herself from being hurt again. I knew as soon as CeCe and Evan met he would be the one to heal her and show her how lovely a relationship can be, he was such a true gentleman and I just adored him! I also loved the community feel in this book, all of the characters both main and secondary were lovely!
This really was a beautiful story, well written and with amazing characters. I would highly recommend it and I can’t wait for more from this author!!

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A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small – Review by Katie Matthews

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A Dress To Remember: A Fairy TaleA Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really enjoyable children’s book and one that would be a great introduction to fantasy for younger readers. The story was really easy to follow and read. It would definitely get young imaginations going as the author really did well with the descriptive language. I could easily imagine what things looked like and even imagined what some of the characters would sound like. I liked that there were chapters in this story and would be perfect for children to read before bed at night.
The main character Princess Zarina was actually a really great character progression wise, as her story evolved so did she as a character.
Overall a great story and on I would definitely recommend for young readers.

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Echoing Hearts (The Echo Series Book 1) by C.R. Alam – Review by Katie Matthews

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Echoing Hearts (Book 1 of The Echo Series)Echoing Hearts by C.R. Alam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a beautifully written story, I really did enjoy it. The characters were well written and were likeable. Dean and Rae were both great characters to read about, their first encounter actually made me chuckle – Dean was not impressed but there was so clearly an instant attraction between them. They both had past issues that was preventing them both from even contemplating a relationship but I was desperately rooting for them both the whole way through the book. I think Rae was definitely my favourite character, she had such a wonderful personality and was so full of confidence and independence – I just loved her!
Overall a lovely read that is well written. I would definitely recommend it to other readers.

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Deadly Intentions by Anise Storm – Review by Katie Matthews

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Deadly IntentionsDeadly Intentions by Anise Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always get excited when I see a new book from this author as I have read and enjoyed so many of hers and this was no exception. I will admit with was a dark romance read but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was well written with a great pace and flow to it. I loved the twists and turns and the characters were great to read about. This had a really gritty storyline that kept me turning the pages so I could see what was going to happen. The characters Nazario and Viviano were both really strong – I found them really interesting to read about especially Nazario – he was certainly different to what I expected!
I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy the romance on the darker side! You won’t be disappointed!

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Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Katie Matthews

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Ale's Fair in Love and War (Love on Tap, #1)Ale’s Fair in Love and War by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this author so much! Her stories are so much fun to read and this new release from her was just amazing! I loved every minute of it and is definitely one of my favourite reads of 2023 so far!
I loved the banter between Hollis and Cash – I’m pretty sure if they were younger they would pushing each other over in the playground and pulling each other’s hair! They had an undeniable amount of chemistry between them but hated each other equally!
There were a lot of laugh out loud moments especially between the two main characters which made it very entertaining to read! I am really looking forward to the next book in this series!

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Loretta’s Caterpillar (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Katie Matthews

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Loretta's Caterpillar (Loretta's Insects #4)Loretta’s Caterpillar by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another wonderful story from this author featuring Loretta. This book would 100% be a perfect addition to topics on the life cycle of a butterfly. It was explained really well and would be so engaging for young children. The story was really lovely whilst explaining everything so well about how caterpillars turn into beautiful butterflies. It is easy for children to follow with many talking points available. I love that at the end of the books the author always includes an activity for children to try at home.

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Master Calabrea (Masters of the Consulate Book 6) by Sylvia Black – Review by Katie Matthews

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Master Calabrea: Dark Vampire Romance (Masters of the Consulate Book 6)Master Calabrea: Dark Vampire Romance by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 6 in this series and I am still absolutely loving it! In this latest instalment we follow Master Calabrea as he is set the task of an enemy of the vampire community Isala. I loved the first meeting between Master Calabrea and Tansia who is on his team. There was something between them right from the very start and I enjoyed reading their story. I actually really liked Tansia, she was a great female lead in the story and could definitely hold her own, she had a history which made her an interesting character to get to know. I am really excited to see what happens in book 7 in this wonderfully dark vampire series!

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Shameless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls Book 2) by KG Fletcher – Review by Katie Matthews

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Shameless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls, #2)Shameless Love by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I honestly just absolutely adore this author. She creates the most amazing stories and characters and picking up one of her books is always a pleasure. I loved the first book in this series and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next, Walt’s story. and as I expected it didn’t disappoint at all. Walt and Elyse were such amazing characters and the chemistry between them was on fire! I really liked Elyse, she was such a string independent character and so genuine as well. Walt was a little grumpy but I think that definitely made him even more desirable especially once we finally got to know the real Walt! I loved the two of them together, they were just so perfect in my opinion.
Another wonderful read from this author, it is the second book in this series but could be read as a standalone however I would recommend reading in order as they are both amazing reads!

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Cry Baby (Pierce Brothers Book 4) by Belinda Williams – Review by Katie Matthews

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Cry Baby (Pierce Brothers, #4)Cry Baby by Belinda Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have read a few books by this author and I really enjoy her light hearted writing style so I was looking forward to this book and I wasn’t disappointed. I really enjoyed the story and I loved the characters. I really liked that the story wasn’t what I anticipated to be and I love it when that happens. I’ve read about the other brothers in this series so it was great to read about Noah. I loved the slow burn between him and Amy because of their past it really suited then well that they would have this kind of relationship. The author did a really good job of getting the emotions of the characters across, I could really feel it as a reader.
I loved this fourth instalment to the Pierce Brothers series and I look forward to reading more from this author again.

@katiem
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True Colors (Landry’s True Colors Series Book One) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Katie Matthews

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True Colors (Landry's True Colors #1)True Colors by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story, it was nice to read something a little different to what I normally read. The pace and flow of the story was really good and I think the author did an amazing job of capturing Landry’s 13 year old character so perfectly. She conveyed her inner thoughts and feelings across to me as the reader really well. I really did feel like I knew Landry and could definitely empathise with how she was feeling at times. Being a teenager is a really hard time and I definitely think the author portrayed this really well. I can imagine many young readers would be able to relate to the characters and social situations that arise in this book. I would definitely like to read the next book in the series.

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Hot For Me (The Balefire Series Book 4) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Katie Matthews

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Hot For Me (The Balefire Series Book 4)Hot For Me by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oohh I love a good rockstar romance so when I saw this one I quicky snapped it up – I didn’t realise however that it was the fourth book in this series but it didn’t matter as it was easily read as a standalone but did ignite my wanting to read about the others members of the band. The story was well written, dual POV which is my favourite – I love that you get to understand both characters and I felt like I really knew both Adam and Cristy really well by the end of this book. The chemistry between the two characters was really intense but it still felt believable. I think I pretty much fell in love with Adam as soon as I started reading about him.
This really was a great read and one I would highly recommend – I look forward to reading the next and previous books in this series.

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Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Katie Matthews

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Savage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite PrequelSavage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite Prequel by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book and it’s made me so excited for the series to come! It was easy to read and had some great characters! Riley was fabulous! She is definitely going to be one who will stick up for herself and I sense there’s going to be some chemistry between her and Cole and also a LOT of angst if the story goes the way I think it will!
This is a prequel story so is only short but it definitely gets you ready for the next book! I cannot wait!!!
I will add there are some parts of this story concerning mental health which could be a trigger for some readers, I feel the author dealt with them sensitively because sadly these things to happen in life.

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My Inner Critic by Christine Bernard – Review by Katie Matthews

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My Inner CriticMy Inner Critic by Christine Bernard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this a really interesting book to read. The author openly begins this book explaining that it is a mixture of both parts of her life and also fictional situations and characters. I found it to be such a relatable book and I really connected with the characters either real or not that I was reading about. I think there truly is some thought-provoking moments in this story that really make you think about things.
Overall a really relatable read and one I would definitely recommend to anyone who had their own ‘Inner Critic’.

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Absolution by Anise Storm & Taylor L. Ray – Review by Katie Matthews

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AbsolutionAbsolution by Anise Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am still trying to process my thoughts on this book to be able to write this review. I have read many books by one of these authors and she is just an incredibly talented writer but this book honestly was just something else. I love it when a book is written by two author and their writing style matches so well you have no idea who has written what! Brilliant collaboration. I was completely consumed by what I was reading, I had no idea which way the authors were going with the story – it really was an amazing read. I will be honest and say it may not be a story for everyone but I loved it, I loved the darkness of Dominic and his want for revenge, I probably should have liked him as much as I did. He was a really complex character and I found him fascinating with the way in which he thought at times. Whitney was an interesting character as well
Overall a great read and one I would recommend!

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Evan (Billionaire Blind Dates Book 2) by Toni Denise – Review by Katie Matthews

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Evan: A Steamy Billionaire Workplace Contemporary Romance (Billionaire Blind Dates Book 2)Evan: A Steamy Billionaire Workplace Contemporary Romance by Toni Denise
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so excited to get my hands on the second book in this series and my gosh the author did not disappoint! I’d quite happily go on a blind date with any of these friends! This book was Evan’s turn for his blind date and it didn’t really get off to a great start! I really like Evan, he’s quite down to earth and a really likeable character. Kayla was such a sweetheart and I could tell that they had so much chemistry between then from the very first page and I was rooting for them!! I knew that their story wouldn’t be straight forward and I loved all the will they won’t they angst that was going on.
I am very excited to get my hands on the next book in this series!!

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Arrrgh! Me Hate To Wait! by Mary Bleckwehl – Review by Katie Matthews

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Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait!Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait! by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really fun book with beautifully engaging illustrations. I read this book with my 3 year old and he seemed to really enjoy it. I have to admit I did struggle to read it out loud at times with the way in which it was written but it was the perfect language for the story about piggy pirate school! The pig character names were funny. I loved the for older children you could really use this book as a talking point about how we need to have patience and wait for things.
Overall an engaging and fun read with beautiful, colourful illustrations!

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The Muffin Shop Murder: A Delilah Crumbworthy Mystery by Holly Tierney – Review by Katie Matthews

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The Muffin Shop Murder: A Delilah Crumbworthy MysteryThe Muffin Shop Murder: A Delilah Crumbworthy Mystery by Holly Tierney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s been a while since I read a book by this author so I was really excited to see a new release from her and didn’t hesitate to grab a copy. It was everything I expected a really great read with a lot of mystery that makes you try and solve what is going on with the characters. I really love this authors writing, I find she creates really engaging storyline and her attention to detail means I get to know her characters really well. I liked Delilah, she was a fun character to read about and I am definitely looking forward to reading more about her in the next book in this new cozy mystery series!

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Bees in Loretta’s Bonnet (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Katie Matthews

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Bees in Loretta's Bonnet (Loretta's Insects #2)Bees in Loretta’s Bonnet by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As always a great educational read from this author! I really enjoy reading her books as they are such great short stories that are full of great information for children. I always love the activities she includes at the end of the books and in the case of this one it was how to make a bees nest. I think there are some great talking points in this book for children and would make a great addition to schools if they are doing a topic which includes learning about bees.
Another great children’s book from this author!

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Hit on You by Brooke May – Review by Katie Matthews

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Hit on YouHit on You by Brooke May
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another fantastic book from this author! I really love her writing style and have enjoyed many of her books and love how versatile she is when writing. This book was a brilliant read, I really enjoyed it. I love a good dark romance and this one definitely delivered on that front! I absolutely loved Lu and Nikolai! Lu was a wonderful, independent female lead but she also still had that small amount of vulnerability to make her need someone in her life. Nikolai was a strong male lead but again he had this side to him that wasn’t overpowering and he realised that he needed to let Lu have her independence but be there when she needed him. there was so much chemistry between the two of them and the author really made this come alive in the story!
Overall a fantastic dark romance and one that I would highly recommend!

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Saving the Bellydancer (Green Brotherhood: SEAL Team XII Book 3) by Debra Parmley – Review by Katie Matthews

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Saving the Bellydancer (Green Brotherhood: SEAL Team XII Book 3)Saving the Bellydancer by Debra Parmley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, the story was engaging and I liked reading about the characters. I think I might be a little bit in love with Cutter – he was so dreamy! I loved how he was so fiercely protective of Zarifah. They had such a genuine connection and I loved reading their story. There was a good mix of romance, suspense and acti0on – it’s definitely one of those stories that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through.
This book is quite short being a novella but I don’t think the story was lacking in anyway – I would have loved a longer read just because I loved the characters so much and would happily have read more about them!
Overall a great read with lovely characters! A definite must read!

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Sharing His Nanny (Forever Our Girl Book 2) by Tori Chase – Review by Katie Matthews

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Sharing His Nanny (Forever Our Girl, #2)Sharing His Nanny by Tori Chase
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So this book was a little out of my comfort zone, it contained quite a few tropes I like or love and some I’m not so sure about but the synopsis sounded good so I thought I would give it a go and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I loved Stella! It so refreshing to read about plus size characters and she just oozed sexiness and confidence – I just honestly loved her so much. There was so much chemistry between all of the characters and it felt genuine. I think the author is very upfront about the kind of content in the story so it’s quite clearly this is intended for a mature audience only!
Overall this was a great read, full of hot and steamy encounters and wonderful characters! I wouldn’t hesitate to read another book by this author again in the future.

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Chasing Redemption (The Quimby Grove Series Book 2) by Shannon Nikole – Review by Katie Matthews

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Chasing Redemption (Quimby Grove #2)Chasing Redemption by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a good read – I really enjoyed it. I loved Marley and Max! Even though their first encounter was only the one night there did seem to be this instant and genuine connection between them. I loved the added suspense in the story this was great and definitely kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next in Marley and Max’s story. The author had a wonderful and engaging writing style that certainly kept my attention throughout. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I am certainly excited to read more from her in the future!

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Handle With Care (Chase Care Book 1) by R.L. Dunn – Review by Katie Matthews

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Handle With Care (Chase Care Book 1)Handle With Care by R.L. Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yet again another wonderful read from this author! I loved Hunter and Selma! They were such wonderful characters to read about, there was just something about this book that made you want to keep reading long in to the night! It definitely had that can’t put down feel about because you just want to find out what is going to happen on the next page. The way in which the author writes she really does draw you into the story and the characters’ lives that in parts it felt a little bit like reality. I will admit this book is longer than your average read but it is so worth it in my opinion! Beautifully written with wonderful characters – a must read!!

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My Pearl Heart by J.N. Sheats – Review by Katie Matthews

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My Pearl HeartMy Pearl Heart by J.N. Sheats
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really interesting read and one that I did enjoy overall. The way in which the story was written was really good and intriguing. The author wove a tale of complex relationships and I think it’s one of those stories that each reader will have a different feeling or interpretation of what they think the main character Jasmine should do or have done. I will admit that the story was slow to start but really did begin to pick up pace from around the half way mark. A really interesting read that will definitely take you on a rollercoaster of emotions.

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The Taste of Light (The Winemakers Book 2) by Giovanna Siniscalchi – Review by Katie Matthews

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The Taste of Light (The Winemakers, #2)The Taste of Light by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After reading book 1 in this series I was really looking forward to this one and I wasn’t disappointed. Again the author transported back in time to 1872 Portugal. I love historical romance reads but for me this series has been so great to read because of the setting – I usually read about London and very rarely anywhere else. The author paints an amazing historical picture with her wonderful words and I loved every minute of what I read. I was looking forward to finding out more about Pedro and I loved his POV chapters, I really felt as though I got to know him and yes I did end up falling in love with him! Anne was a sweet character, she may have been young and a little naive but there was just something about her and I loved her and Pedro together!
Overall a great second book in this series and one that I would highly recommend!

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Underboss’s Retaliation (Sicilian Gods Book 2) by Via Mari – Review by Katie Matthews

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Underboss's Retaliation (Sicilian Gods Book 2)Underboss’s Retaliation by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I honestly love this author so much, I don’t even bother reading the blurb for her stories anymore as I just know they are going to be amazing and as predicted this book was no different and she definitely upped the ante I this book that’s for sure! Twists and turns galore and I was practically on the edge of my seat the whole way through – there was suspense, romance and w whole lot more! I think for me it was Emelia who stole the show – she was such an amazing character – I absolutely loved her!
Fabulous dark read – I cannot wait for more from this author!!

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