Finding Your Heart: A Journal for Discovering Your Heart by Nadia Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This journal will help you deal with making peace with the things in your life that have been dragging you down. This book came to me at just the right time. I was not at all sure what I was getting into when I got it, but it has been eye-opening and oh so helpful.
Kneading a Winning Idea by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
classic tale of “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”. Great story about not giving up, practice makes perfect and many other things. Wonderfully illustrated as well
Joy’s Christmas Escape: The Marshal’s Mail Order Bride Book 1 by P. Creeden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Joy’s grandmother passes away and leaves Joy with a mess. Joys only hope is to run off and pray that the trouble doesn’t follow her. Joy agrees to be Jack’s bride. This story is the first in a series of stand-alone mail order bride books.
This book was entertaining and keep me engaged. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Detective Dylan and the Case of the Missing Mail: A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series by MJ Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is super fun. The hunt is on for the neighbor’s mail. Can Dylan with his new Sleuth set find the clue to help find the missing mail? Short, easy to read chapters that are fun and engaging. Great illustrations and the clues help you find the answer to the “where”.
My Big Red Monster by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lois Wickstrom is a wonderful story teller. She has a very vivid imagination and the stories are wonderful for children of all ages. The Big Red Monster is no exception to that. A great story along with fabulous illustrations brings the monster in this book to life. Brothers who don’t believe in monsters under the bed, Beware!
The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you are needing a quick feel good read then this is it. There is nothing like a Christmas story at the holidays and this one does not disappoint. What could be better to escape the reality of your life going haywire than a trip to beautiful Australia for the holidays? Good story and a quick read.
Hot Flashes and Hockey Slashes by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is hands down the best book I have read this year. The fact that the male and female main characters were both over 40 with meddling young adult kids made this story even more realistic to me. Going through menopause myself at 49, I really connect with Olivia (Ollie). Marika Ray and Sylvie Stewart have teamed up and written what I think is a fabulous story.
Merry Christmas, Montana by Elsa Winckler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely love Christmas themed stories and this one fits the bill perfectly! The is the 3rd book in the series, but I read this as a stand-alone and didn’t feel as if I was missing anything. This is the perfect blend of interfering family, single-mom, swoon-worthy bachelor and small-town charm that is perfect for the Christmas season.
Read in just a couple short hours, you will find yourself drawn into the world of Mitch and Riley. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Chasing Cheer by Heather Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Such an amazing read. I don’t know what exactly I was expecting but man was I captivated by this story. Full of surprises around every turn of the page. Fun, engaging, quick read. This would make a perfect Hallmark movie. I cannot go on as I will spoil this book for someone but I just think everyone who loves Christmas stories should grab this book!
Faking the Fall by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The fourth book in the Buckeye Falls series and it does not disappoint! Each book can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading them in order as many of the characters do appear in the subsequent books. This book is wonderful in so many ways. I found it very hard to put it down and spent most of an afternoon finishing it. Quick, easy to read with well developed plot and characters.
Mr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This author is quickly becoming a staple in our home. My kids are drawn to the artwork in every book as well as the stories. This book is no exception to that. The imagination that goes into every page is fantastic. The way it makes my kid want to keep reading and turning pages is just awesome. I also find myself enthralled at the visions Lois Wickstrom manages to incorporate in every book. I can not wait to see what the next book will have in store for us.
Ignite My Heart by Alicia Street
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fairly new to me author, I read the first book in this series and I am not regretting my choices at all. With believable story lines and loveable characters, I am quickly becoming a fan. The books aren’t so long that you start to get bored, but they aren’t so short that they leave you with questions. I will definitely be back for more.
Mr Wimp by B.L. Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Very relatable and realistic. Love that Bella has such a strong group of friends that help her get back on her feet after her husband drops his bombshell. Interesting ending, would have loved to explore that more. Looking forward to more of the novellas in this series as they are the perfect length to just escape for a little bit. First time reading this author but definitely not the last.
Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend: A story about pet loss and saying goodbye to a furry friend. Ages 5-11 and kindergarten through grade 5. by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wonderful read. Sad, heartbreaking, but true in all ways about losing a friend/pet. Wish I had known about this book when we lost our favorite pet a couple years ago.
The Guardsman by Cat Treadgold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the second book in the Olympic Peninsula series says WATCH THIS! Liam and Teresa are both a handful on their own but when you throw them together watch out. It is very rare that the second book rivals the first but I must admit I think I like Teresa and Liam’s story better than Joe and Ali from book one. You should read these in order as they do carry on from book one and Joe and Ali are very prominent in this second book. I am eagerly awaiting the 3rd book…. I have read the blurb and let’s just say I can’t hardly wait!
The Silent Woodsman by Cat Treadgold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The first book in the Olympic Peninsula series and it does not disappoint in any way! I read this book quickly, I was sucked in from the first chapter and I had to see how things would turn out for Joe and Ali. The characters are well developed and the story line is fantastic. I am eager to devour this entire series.
The Magic Carousel by K.L. Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
WONDERFUL!!! This book is full of detail and it will take you through so much in Russel’s life. While this story is geared towards kids, I (being almost 50) was drawn in and captivated by the details and the adventures. What a wonderful way to spend time with your Grandfather. Wonderful book that will hopefully be enjoyed by many!
Back to the 80’s by S.E. Reichert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Oh the nostalgia! This book has me reliving all my best days as a pre-teen/teenager. I absolutely love this story. Well written, loads of laughs as well as some not so funny parts. The bet and them trying to win, but will they get more than they planned? Great story!
Mesmerised by Toya Richardson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Even though this is book two in the series, it is a total stand alone. The hybrid finding his mate, helping her get rid of the demons chasing her. Watching the mates get to know each other and join forces to rid the world of demons. Not only do they learn about each other but we learn about them as well. The author does a wonderful job of character development and keeps you engaged in the story.
Firewall by Jessica Mehring
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wonderful read. Perfect for a mind cleanser, under 200 pages, can be read in one sitting. Victoria is a computer securities person and Angus is a Firefighter and is Victoria’s best friends. brother. This book is full of twists and turns, one of which I never saw coming! Perfect amount of heat and all closed door intimate scenes but you can gage the attraction between the main characters. Looking forward to more from this author.
Love, Only Better by Paulette Stout
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Rebecca is on a mission to find her orgasm. This book does a great job at focusing on the how, when and why she does the things she does to discover if she is able to reach the pinnacle of climax. Finding a hot neighbor in the process is just adding another layer to it. This book was not only entertaining it was also educational. Well written and enjoyable.
Softest Touch by Adina D. Grey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story is short, sweet, and straight to the point. This is my first read by Adina D. Grey and it was a good read. I did however leave the story wanting more. more story, more time, more relationship building. At just under 100 pages you will have no problems reading this in one sitting. enjoyable, just wishing there was MORE.
Liz’s Road Trip by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I do not consider myself a person who cries easily or who cries over fiction. But let me tell you, this book had me in tears from the beginning. I don’t know if it is the combination of wonderful writing and missing my momma or what but WOW. This book definitely had me pulled in from the start. I LOVE that Liz’s grandmother had a sordid past and what a past it was. Liz is definitely selfish and wants everything to revolve around her and this time things aren’t about her, she is fulfilling the wishes of her deceased grandmother and yes Liz is a bit of a brat about it at times. I love that her Bestie and new Boyfriend have put her in her place a time or two. I really enjoyed this book and read it from start to finish in one sitting.
Shadowed Obsession: An Action-Packed Romantic Suspense Thriller by Mavery Ellscott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A new to me author, and upon reading her bio I discovered this is her debut novel. WOW. What a great start in writing. Even though I was able to kind of figure out who the person was terrorizing Keira, I was still surprised at the over all outcome and discovery of other information. This book will keep you turning pages and make you want to finish just to know who did it.
The romance part is well written and I LOVE Cade and Keira. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.
Saved by the Everyday Hero by Amelia Hayden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This Anthology is FULL of stories where someone is rescuing someone else. The first book in this Anthology is Unexpected Heroes by Naomi Valkyrie and it is a M/M romance. Elijah is new to town and is a single dad to an infant son. A troubled past seems to have followed him and leave it to his moody neighbor Jude to find a way to protect Elijah and even Griffin. A quick almost insta-love story that has you rooting for Elijah and Jude from the first meet.
The second book I want to tell you about from this Anthology is Quin to The Rescue by L.A. Remenicky. Mirra and Quin went to high school together but Mirra has been gone for many years, but now that she is back, can she let go of the demons that torture her memories of the past. Quinn was the star basketball player in high school but after a knee injury ended his basketball playing, now he is a police officer and he comes to Mirras rescue more than once in this story.
This Anthology contains many more stories from various authors and all of them are great.
Heavy Shot by Toni Aleo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A new to me author, this book is number seven in a series and yet I had no problem understanding the plot and figuring out the players and who they were married/involved with. I know this story and series follows the players but I find it hard to not want/hope that the sisters of Austens also get their stories told.
with that being said, this book in itself is freaking HOT! Dimitry and Austen are a must read. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent with them.
Throwing the Curve by Lauren Fraser
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Book two in the Playing for Keeps Series definitely does not disappoint. Even though this is part of a series all of the books can be read as stand-alone. This is Peyton and Ryan’s story. What starts out as mutual distrust and dislike for each other eventually leads to their fake-dating and the events that follow.
This story starts as a fake relationship genre but quickly crosses over to rom-com with the obvious sports romance and then bridges to the enemies-to-lovers genres. Something for everyone.
Ten Little Starfish: A Counting Book by Kim Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wonderful adventure finding the starfish and counting them. I can picture there being many readings of this story frequently. wonderfully detailed illustrations. Fun will be had when reading this story.
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!!
How to Catch Little Boys and Eat Them by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Love this author for children’s books. My kids are becoming big fans. A loosely base retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, but this is in the POV of the Giant. Great illustrations and a great deal of lessons to be learned here.
