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Blood & Ravens (The Casket Girls Series Book 1) by A.D. Brazeau – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance (The Casket Girls Book 1)Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blood & Ravens by A.D. Brazeau is wonderfully dark and delicious! I really enjoyed delving into the world of 18th-century New Orleans. I loved the bond between Greer and her fellow casket girls. I also loved the chemistry between Greer and Theron; it was amazing! It was also fun seeing them both struggle with their attraction to each other. This was a book with a decadent plot and great characters. Blood and Ravens is a very intriguing story and a great beginning to what is sure to be a fascinating series. I cannot wait to start the next book.

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The Cruiser (The Hustlers Trilogy Book 1) by Rowan Rossler – Review by La Toya Lewis

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The Cruiser (The Hustlers Trilogy, #1)The Cruiser by Rowan Rossler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! Fast-paced and steamy is one of my favorite combinations and this book does not disappoint. The Cruiser has some wonderful characters. I absolutely loved the chemistry between Morgan and Vandana. The characters are likable and well written and the plot is great. I loved the rich indulgence of the book. Monaco, here I come! Although I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the story at first, I found the book very difficult to put down. A wonderful weekend indulgence.

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Everwood County Plantation: BWWM Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire Romance by Stacy-Deanne – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Everwood County Plantation: BWWM Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire RomanceEverwood County Plantation: BWWM Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire Romance by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Everwood Plantation is a quick and fun read for lovers of the enemies to lovers trope. Zenni is a florist trying to stop the demolition of the plantation her family is from, by billionaire Colton Sage. I liked the banter between the two characters. It was definitely entertaining. I do think that the characters could use some fleshing out. She’s selfish and he’s immature which meant I found it difficult to root for them. It’s hard to root for a couple when you don’t really feel a connection to either character. That being said, I think this book is a quick and fun read for people that love romance. Enjoy!

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The Last Cabin Girl (Detective Josie Thompson Series) by Tom Swyers – Review by La Toya Lewis

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The Last Cabin GirlThe Last Cabin Girl by Tom Swyers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a good thriller and this book did not disappoint. Josie Thompson is a mother of 2 trying to divorce her abusive husband and start a new life. Josie is soon pulled into a case that has similarities to something she witnessed in her youth. This is a story that pulls you right in from the beginning. It is well written and intriguing. There are a lot of twists and turns to keep the reader intrigued. I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure things out, only to have it veer in another direction. It is a fairly quick read and I found Josie to be an interesting protagonist. Though there is a bit of pandemic talk, it does not detract from the story. A great book! I look forward to the rest of the series.

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An Alien Storm (Soldiers of Saedo Book 4) by Calla Zae – Review by La Toya Lewis

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An Alien Storm (Soldiers of Saedo, #4)An Alien Storm by Calla Zae
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An Alien Storm is the fourth book in the Soldiers of Saedo series. I really enjoyed this book. It is a gem! Despite reading An Alien Storm without reading the first 3 books in the series, it was very easy to follow. I really enjoyed the world-building and absolutely adored the interactions between Vanessa and Arkon. They are both intriguing and relatable characters and they have sweet, sexy chemistry. The plot is well developed and has quite a bit of action. There were a lot of great laugh-out-loud moments. I plan to go back and read the first 3 and then the fifth book.

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Until There Was You by G. Colgrove – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Until there was youUntil there was you by G. Colgrove
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! Until There Was You is a faced paced and sizzling romance. I loved the characters of Regan and Jeremy. I especially loved their chemistry. I completely related to Regan and her feeling that her life was cursed. The plot flows nicely and doesn’t get bogged down in the details. An easy and compelling read. I look for to reading more books by G. Colgrove!

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Claiming My Mate (Wolf Hollow Pack Book 1) by Nicole Howl – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Claiming My Mate (Wolf Hollow Pack, #1)Claiming My Mate by Nicole Howl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Claiming My Mate by Nicole Howl is a fast-paced and incredibly enjoyable paranormal romance story. Lily and Jason are fated mates. However, he is the prince and alpha to be and she is the kidnapped and enslaved servant to the royal family. The book is adventurous with well-written characters. I really enjoyed Lily, Jason, and Dean’s interactions. Seeing all that Lily had to go through and her inner dialogue broke my heart. The plot is great and while I enjoyed the pace, I do wish it’d been slowed down a bit for more plot development. Some things just didn’t make sense to happen that quickly, like Lily’s strength development. This book is a fast, enjoyable read. I was so engrossed that I was surprised when the end came. I eagerly await the sequel.

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The-Know-It-All-Pencil (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review By La Toya Lewis

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The Know-It-All PencilThe Know-It-All Pencil by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Know It All Pencil is one of the cutest children’s books I have ever read. Caspian is an adventurous young man that receives the Know It All pencil from his grandfather for his UnBirthday. The pencil then leads him on an adventure. I really love how sweet and caring Caspian is. Also, the African American representation in the book is a definite plus. I cannot wait to read this book to my children again. It was absolutely adorable.

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Shamrock & Clover: Field’s Apart by C.A. King – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Shamrock & Clover: Fields ApartShamrock & Clover: Fields Apart by C.A. King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Shamrock & Clover: Field’s Apart by C.A. King is a romance about two people that have had great losses, finding each other. It is a nice quick read to start off the spring season. These two unfortunately have an abundance of bad luck which is quite ironic given their names. It seems like they can’t catch a break. Fortunately, this loss leads them to each other and they are able to find what they have been missing. I do wish that the characters had been more developed. It was difficult to empathize on a deeper level because a connection with the characters is never really established. I did like that the characters did show some growth towards the end. If you like springtime romance, this book is for you.

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Reunion in the Outback (Welcome to Bunya Junction Book 4) by Nicole Flockton – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Reunion in the Outback (Welcome to Bunya Junction, #4)Reunion in the Outback by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Reunion in the Outback is a story about Yolanda and Michael Watson. They are high school sweethearts that leave Bunya Junction to have a better future and leave their not-so-good past behind. I thought that this book has likable characters that are well written. There is a lot of care and thought put into this story that I greatly appreciate. The characters can be infuriating because they make everything harder than it needs to be by keeping secrets and not communicating. Without this, the conflict would have been resolved within a few chapters. If you are a person that likes angst, then you will probably enjoy this story a lot. Overall, it’s a pretty good read.

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Notebook Mysteries ~Decisions and Possibilities (Notebook Mysteries Book 2) by Kimberly Mullins – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Decisions and Possibilities (Notebook Mysteries #2)Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emma Evans is back to solve more mysteries. Now 18 years old our heroine is ready to take on bigger more dangerous crimes to solve. This book is charming and intriguing. While you should probably start with the first book in the series, I feel you can probably catch on rather well if you start with this one. I loved Emma’s friends and family and her ability to take on more dangerous adventures. There are also a lot of exciting plot twists and turns that I greatly enjoyed. A very engaging book!

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Changes and Challenges (Notebook Mysteries Book 3) by Kimberly Mullins – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Changes and ChallengesNotebook Mysteries ~ Changes and Challenges by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Once again the stakes are raised for Emma. Changes and Challenges definitely rose to the occasion. I really enjoyed how we saw Emma and Jeremy navigating their relationship during this time period. Just as charming and intriguing as the previous book, this book has Emma put all of her talents to use to solve her latest mystery. This is a well-written adventure with historical facts woven in. It was also great to see old friends pop up. I really enjoyed the latest addition to the Notebook Mysteries series.

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The Traveler: Book 2 by Deborah Dugan – Review by La Toya Lewis

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The Traveler: Book 2The Traveler: Book 2 by Deborah Dugan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was so excited to read this book. I enjoyed book 1 immensely. Getting to see more of Harry’s past lives was interesting. I really enjoyed learning about previous relationships that he had a chance to develop. His life as Small Brother both made me happy and broke my heart. It was devastating to see the way people rejected him. The component I enjoyed most in the first book was Harry’s relationship with Tristan and I was so happy to see how much of a positive impact the relationship had on Tristan and that we also got to see his life after Harry. Another book full of great characters and interesting adventures for the Traveler. I look forward to reading more of this series.

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Bella: An Appalachian Love Story & Jagged Dawn: Logan’s Beginnings by Valerie Davisson – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Bella-An Appalachian Love Story & Jagged Dawn-Logan's BeginningsBella-An Appalachian Love Story & Jagged Dawn-Logan’s Beginnings by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really loved this combination novella. I enjoyed getting to know Norah’s story and Bella’s history. So romantic and tragic. I also enjoyed getting to know Logan. The McKenna women seem to have strength written in their DNA. I also loved sweet Giovanni. Poor guy couldn’t get a fair shake. I am new to this series so I don’t know yet what characters we will see again but I loved seeing William. Both younger and older, he was a delight. The little bit that I got to see made me want to know more about these people. I could read a whole book about any one of these characters. I am fully prepared to devour the Logan McKenna series.

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Lingering Spirits (Soul Connection Book 4) by Nikki Lynn Barrett – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Lingering Spirits (Soul Connection, #4)Lingering Spirits by Nikki Lynn Barrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 4 is another home run! I really enjoyed this latest paranormal romance from Nikki Lynn Barrett. Russ and Hope are a wonderful pair. It was wonderful to see the plot take shape and mysteries figured out. I loved seeing former characters and enjoyed the new ones also. The build-up to Hope and Russ finally meeting was perfect. It is very easy to fall in love with these characters. A perfect addition to the series.

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Snowfall Serenade(Soul Connection Book 3) by Nikki Lynn Barrett – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Snowfall Serenade (Soul Connection, #3)Snowfall Serenade by Nikki Lynn Barrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whoo boy! This third installment of the Soul Connection series rocked me. In Snowfall Serenade, Scott and Zelda really go through a lot. Their tragedy is something that I have personally experienced it really touched me and made me feel what these characters were going through. This amazing couple is tested time and time again. This series just keeps better with each book. Getting to experience the lives of these two is truly a gift.

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Sleeping Angel (Soul Connection Book 2) by Nikki Lynn Barrett – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Sleeping Angel (Soul Connection, #2)Sleeping Angel by Nikki Lynn Barrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My goodness, this was a good read. Even more heart-wrenching, we see Zelda and Scott and more of the ghosts. I enjoyed this book even more than I did the first book. More, mystery and suspense. Ms. Barrett is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I really enjoyed getting to know Angel. My heart broke for both her and Logan. The anticipation for reading the next book in the series is very high.

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Peaceful Slumber (Soul Connection Book 1) by Nikki Lynn Barrett – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Peaceful Slumber (Soul Connection, #1)Peaceful Slumber by Nikki Lynn Barrett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Peaceful Slumber is a very good read. I was not prepared to enjoy Scott and Zelda’s story as much as I did. It’s so lovely yet so tragic. A good mystery/suspense plot with intriguing characters. I have to say if I were Scott I would’ve kept up the plan to not show that I could see the ghosts but he did we would not have had such a lovely story. Off to read the next in the series!

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Depending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Depending On YouDepending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh boy did I enjoy this book! From the twists and turns to the sweet, sweet friendship of Cate and Patti, this book was right up my alley. From the start, you could feel the love between Cate and Patti. They reminded me so much of my relationship with my best friend. I very much enjoyed the plot. The characters are also enjoyable and complex. This is my first book by this author but it certainly is not my last.

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Plague of Death (Anchoress Series Book 2) by D.L. Armillei – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Plague of Death (Anchoress, #2)Plague of Death by D.L. Armillei
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Plague of Death, we get to see a matured Van, or at least that’s what she thinks. Poor Van has gone so far in the other direction. She’s taken to her new role a little too well and is trying to harden herself. It broke my heart to see Van repress her emotions. She’s suffered so much and you just want to give the poor girl the biggest hug. This makes the moments where she makes bad choices so much more understandable. She’s still just a teenager. I do question some of the adult decisions sometimes. Again, great adventure. It was good to see another side to some of the other characters. My heart aches for these kids that are doing the best they can to save their people. They all give up so much. Although I think it’s more beneficial to read the first book, the author does a great job of recapping it so that you know what’s going on if you opt not to. The only thing I could have done without was another love interest but I supposed that’s par for the course.

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Helm of Awe (Anchoress Series Book 3) by D.L. Armillei – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Helm of Awe: Anchoress Series Book ThreeHelm of Awe: Anchoress Series Book Three by D L Armillei
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this latest installment, we see Van facing more challenges. She still has her previous frustrations with her stepmom and ex-boyfriend but also new ones with her current boyfriend (who I am hoping falls into a hole). She has a new mission and her powers aren’t working right. The one thing I love is to root Van on when she’s making choices that make sense. The theme of her being a teen with the weight of the world on her shoulders but doing the best that she can is still in effect. Same great core characters and plot. I’m still rooting for Brux!

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Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Divine VintageDivine Vintage by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Divine Vintage is absolutely amazing. Much like Trey, I was a skeptic due to this being my first book that deals with spirits. After only a few paragraphs, I was a believer like Tess. I definitely put this one down as one of my favorite books of the year. The story of Trey is sweet and romantic. The story of Phoebe and Edward is tragic and romantic. Put these two together and it is simply mesmerizing. Well written, multi-layered characters and a well-formed plot make this book insanely difficult to put down. This story invokes so many emotions. I adored Tess and rooted for happiness and well-being all the way through. I kinda hated Brett and had a very visceral reaction to him. Nevertheless, there was no black and white here and it was easy to see the motivations of the characters and empathize with them, even if I didn’t agree. I can’t wait to recommend this book to everyone I know.

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So Right (Love Grows Series Book 5) by Renee Regent – Review by La Toya Lewis

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So Right (Love Grows, Book 5)So Right by Renee Regent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So Right is a sweet reverse age gap romance story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Amara and Petro. These two are so oblivious at first but it is wonderful reading about them coming together and seeing they are what the other needs. I laughed at how on the money their thoughts of each other were. It was wonderful reading about a protagonist in my age range that I could easily relate to. I am so happy that these two found each other. This was a nice, easy romantic read.

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Tomb for an Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders Book 1) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Tomb for an Eagle (Orkneyinga Murders #1)Tomb for an Eagle by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tomb for an Eagle is a wonderful and interesting historical mystery. I have read quite a few historical fiction but no historical mysteries. This book did not disappoint. This is a well-written, well-developed book with interesting characters. I enjoyed going along for the ride with Ketil and Sigrid. I got hooked on these characters from the start and could not put the book down. It is absolutely a page-turner. This was a different kind of mystery experience that I definitely enjoyed. I recommend this for anyone looking for unconventional historical fiction.

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders Book 4) by Lexie Conyngham – Review by La Toya Lewis

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The Bear at Midnight (Orkneyinga Murders #4)The Bear at Midnight by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Bear at Midnight is the fourth book in the Orkneinga Murder Books. I was so excited to read this book after reading book 1, Tomb of an Eagle. I was so excited to see Thorafinn, who I read about in book 1. Also like book 1, it is set in Scotland in the Viking era. This is not a time period that I would have thought I enjoyed reading about but just like book 1 the magnificent storytelling and details draw you in. Once again Lexie Conyngham keeps you guessing while enjoying this tale. I highly recommend this book and this series for an intriguing story that keeps you on your toes.

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A Bride for Noah (Brides of Broken Arrow) by Cheryl Wright – Review by La Toya Lewis

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A Bride for Noah (Brides of Broken Arrow #1)A Bride for Noah by Cheryl Wright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How sweet is this book?! A Bride For Noah is a wonderful, quick read. You can’t help but smile while reading this heart-warming tale of two people that enter into a marriage of convenience and end up finding much more. I absolutely adore romance books set in this time period. I love the simpler times although they definitely worked harder then. If you love pure, wholesome romance then this is your book. Cheryl Wright proves that you can write an engaging romance without the sexual innuendo. I loved the interaction between Noah and Mary and found myself drawn in and experiencing their frustration at their miscommunications. It was wonderful watching these two find all that they deserved with each other. The clean, happy ending left me happy and satisfied.

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Daire’s Devils (Daire’s Devils Series Book 1) by Danielle Ackley-McPhail – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Daire's DevilsDaire’s Devils by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Daire’s Devils by Danielle Ackley-McPhail is officially on my list of favorites! This is an awesome military sci-fi adventure! When I decided to read this book, I really didn’t know how I would like it. I’m not at all familiar with the military and it has never been a big interest to me. I can now say I am hooked. This book kept me engaged and I can’t think of one character that I didn’t absolutely love by the end of it. I was worried about the multiple points of view aspect since I don’t usually enjoy that method of storytelling but it was very easy to keep track of all that was going on. I loved, loved, loved the banter between the characters and Scotch and Kat are in my heart! The plot was great and the action kept me on my toes. I laughed hard and was brought near tears reading about this team. I can’t wait to read a follow-up. I was so upset when I realized I had come to the end of the book. Please hurry up with that next book Mrs. Ackley-McPhail!

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by La Toya Lewis

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The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can I say about The Mesmerist? This book is absolutely amazing. Great characters, amazing world-building. This was definitely my kind of book. Our main character Adrijana is wonderfully intelligent, loving, and woefully naive. She’s also a very quick study. The characters are not dumbed down for the sake of the plot and I can totally see certain choices and/or mistakes. There were great twists and turns and I even had sympathy for the villain which almost never happens for me. I’d love to see a redemption arc if that were possible in some way. I adored all the characters. Even grumpy Valko. This was an amazing adventure. Everyone should run to read this book!

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Sinful Vow (Dark Mafia Sins, book 1) by Emily Bowie – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Sinful Vow (Dark Mafia Sins, #0.5)Sinful Vow by Emily Bowie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sinful Vow was an interesting read. It’s a story about a young man adopted by a mafia Don that ends up meeting and falling for the daughter of the Don of the rival family. While I liked the character of Aly it was hard to root for her to be with Luca. He reads like a sociopath and she is his possession. It was very difficult to believe that he loved her and therefore very difficult to root for them. I was screaming for her to run in the other direction. I liked reading about Aly’s relationship with her mom. I wish we could have had more of that. Aly was a smart girl that just doesn’t realize that the man she loves is just like her father, with who she has a lot of issues. I’m not sure if this was intended but character-wise, it’s understandable. There’s lots of good action and it is a quick read. All in all, I liked it.

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Theodore’s Ring by Stacy-Deanne – Review by La Toya Lewis

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Theodore's Ring: BWWM Action Adventure RomanceTheodore’s Ring: BWWM Action Adventure Romance by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Theodore’s Ring was a fast and interesting read. I enjoyed the main couple, Cam and Lydia, and would have definitely loved to see more Cam instead of Sullivan. I think the story definitely would have benefited from some scenes from Cam’s point of view. I would have loved to get to know him a bit more. All in all, I think a bit more background for Cam and Lydia would have helped flesh out the characters for this story since this is the first story for them. I enjoyed the premise of the book. It is a good book if you want something quick and entertaining.

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