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The Fixer (Fall River Series) by G. K. Brady – Review by Lisa Helmick

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The Fixer (Fall River, #2)The Fixer by G.K. Brady
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So I really wanted to like this one. For me it was too slow moving along. There is a lot of day by day and second by second stuff that I felt was unnecessary. I did skim at times and felt I did not miss anything important to the storyline. There is quite a bit that happens in here so the excess seemed unnecessary to me. I liked the storyline (minus excess) and the connection between these two is wonderful. I like his friends and family. His oldest brother looks to have a good story especially since I already love Neve.

This is an okay story for me but I do love these characters. It has small town charm and some suspense mixed with romance. I was kept turning pages trying to figure everything out.

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The Trouble With Possibilities by Nancie Abuhaidar – Review by Lisa Helmick

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The Trouble with PossibilitiesThe Trouble with Possibilities by Nancie Abuhaidar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whew! What a tale! I loved every second of it! Following along on the journey Del takes is eye opening and refreshing. I was jealous of her to have the nerve to take off like she did. Yes she needed it but I was surprised she did it. It made a world of difference in her life and I loved all the people she met, the places she went and the changes she was able to make to her life and within her family. I just wish she wasn’t so accident prone or weepy but she still is a good character and has sone growth and ability to do more. This is very well written and I am glad I picked it up and gave it a chance. Probably one that will be re read again. Highly recommend if you are looking for an adventurous tale.

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Quarterback Keeper: A College Sports Romance (Fall Lake Ballers, Book 1) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Quarterback Keeper: A College Sports Romance (Fall Lake Ballers Book 1)Quarterback Keeper: A College Sports Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Woo Hoo Hoo! What a tangled web we weave! I really enjoyed this suspenseful romance. It easily kept my interest between the story and the characters. The story went places I did not expect it to go. The characters are wonderfully driven. The two MC have an idea in mind and will pursue it but not at all costs. They seem to have good chemistry and seemed believable. Secondary characters are somewhat delightful. I really like his roommates and hope they get their own stories. I look forward to more in this series

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A Safe Place (Philly Heat Series) by Becky Flade – Review by Lisa Helmick

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A Safe Place (Philly Heat series, #6)A Safe Place by Becky Flade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another great book in this series. I really enjoyed all the action and suspense. I could not turn pages fast enough always trying to figure out who and why this is happening. The characters are wonderful and they have quite the backstories. I was really tooting for Madison to finally stop thinking “Everyone leaves”. Those two words really bring a lot to the table and can easily mess with your thoughts. I loved the addition of dog and the child since they both bring a lot to the story and build good relations with Madison. Overall I enjoyed this immensely and look forward to more from this author!

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Reunion (The Hellgate Chronicles) by Jocelyn Lindsay – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Reunion (The Hellgate Chronicles, #1)Reunion by Jocelyn Lindsay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought the review I would write about this would be bad because of the heavy references to what happened in the past…making me wonder about missing a whole book. I only had to deal with the unknown for about a quarter way through(although references were made later) then the story picked up and the suspense started happening and I could not turn pages fast enough to see what would happen next!

I ended up really loving this story other than the aforementioned issues. I was saddened with the Cole situation. I was hoping he would provide a happy ever after. Seeing these girls now and their interactions with each other was incredible. Good and Bad. I am hoping for more in the future.

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Night Sweats and Hockey Nets (Hot Flash Hookups Series) by Sylvie Stewart and Marika Ray – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Night Sweats and Hockey Nets (Hot Flash Hookups #3)Night Sweats and Hockey Nets by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great story connecting these two! I enjoyed hanging out with them as they meet, greet and learn how to be together. There is humor, sincerity and lots of skating in this book. My favorite thing is that he is Russian. Has Russian euphemisms and language translation that add some fun to the story. I love Chloe and all her experiences. From former hockey player to teacher to coach she rocks at everything she does. Plus her adorable relationship with her Dad made me smile. Secondary characters add so much to this one. His team and family as well as her parents and teammates of her Dad’s team. Put them all together and this is one well rounded story.

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The Places We Call Home by Kim Ann – Review by Lisa Helmick

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The Places We Call Home: A picture book to remind us that home is where all love begins.The Places We Call Home: A picture book to remind us that home is where all love begins. by Kim Ann
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A short book that shows the different places that people and animals can live. I think I would have liked this better if it was worked into a story. Each page is a picture and it says “some live …..( whatever the picture is)” and another different in the next page. No storyline. Then the ending makes note of how people are happy in families or alone. It rounds out nicely but the delivery could have been better. On the illustration side of things the pages are very well done and colorful.

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A Pig and a Poke by Tricia Gardella – Review by Lisa Helmick

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A Pig and A PokeA Pig and A Poke by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I grabbed this because the title and the cute cover images drew my interest. Sadly upon opening I felt we were already mid story and I was unsure what was going on. I flipped back and forth thinking I missed the beginning but nope. So I was not a fan of that. The story being told is about being picked on and the aggression towards someone else and seems okay as well.

On the other hand, the images are adorable all throughout. The expressions on the characters faces are a nice addition. That portion was well done.

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She’s My Rhinestone Cowgirl (My Cowboy Series) by Brooke May – Review by Lisa Helmick

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She's My Rhinestone Cowgirl (My Cowboy #7)She’s My Rhinestone Cowgirl by Brooke May
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a good story the follows a couple from teens to adult. I like the idea of this and it reads very easily. It does move along at a slow pace letting the reader see where these two are now in their lives and thoughts of a future. Life revolves around the rodeo for these two. I loved that! The secondary characters are great! Some are annoying and others are ones we have seen from other books in this series. I wish more could have come from her bff to see where the jealousy came from. I also thought maybe his friend he met in sheriff school would have come into play as well.

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Forever to Fall (Buckeye Falls Book 5) by Libby Kay – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Forever to Fall (Buckeye Falls, #5)Forever to Fall by Libby Kay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This isn’t my favorite of the series but it is still good. Mainly because I keep getting the feeling this isnt the first time they have danced this secret dance. But yet no mention of it. Just guesses they have been together multiple times in the past 10 yrs. They both are just waiting for it to magically be okay with the brother but no one wants to tell him until after his engagement. Now the whole idea of them getting “married” when they were kids by the brother is great. Add in years gone by and each would love to do it for real but there is on giant obstacle. Evan. Beckett worries of losing friendship or never seeing Mal again. He figures either way he loses so why try. Overall this is cute and delightful with the bumps and bruises that come with close family and friends. These two really took Forever

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Master Bistrita (Masters of the Consulate Book 11) by Sylvia Black – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Master Bistrita (Masters of the Consulate #11)Master Bistrita by Sylvia Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one is filled with action and suspense! I really enjoyed it! I highly recommend reading the series in order to get the most out of this story. We see a lot of characters from the past as the series is winding down. I liked that the author spent more time on figuring out how to stop the traitors instead of on the sex life of the two mc. They had a quick connection and thankfully others spotted it and helped them out. I like the friendships that have been built in this series. Looking forward to Lucas demise.

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The Secret Aftermath (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Series) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Lisa Helmick

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The Secret Aftermath: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 2)The Secret Aftermath: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a good book that has a lot of action and suspense. I have mixed feelings about it since I did not read book 1 in the series. I highly recommend doing that first as this one has many references and carryovers to book 1. The characters are interesting. They all (well most) have unique powers that is fun to figure out. There are a few humans in here as well. I get they need a special trait to make them more but in here the character Ruiz repeatedly said the word “Chica” much to my annoyance. It looks like they are gearing up for more in this series. I am curious how relations will end up between a few character and what could happen next in the world.

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RELEASE (REWIND Series) by Rowan Shaw – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Release (Rewind #5)Release by Rowan Shaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one took me on a journey I did not expect. We catch up with the ever changing lives of the characters in this series. It is exciting, heartbreaking and thrilling all at the same time. We see characters from the past revisit in the future. Find out who is happy, looking for a change and missing old partners. The story is well written as it takes us through a year of these characters lives.

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Hooked: The Merciless Few (The Merciless Few Series) by S Courtney – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Hooked: The Merciless FewHooked: The Merciless Few by S Courtney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I liked a lot about this story. The title is perfect once I got Into the story I got what it meant. The storyline is sad and yet inspiring it shows a bit about how life with an addict can be. I was really disappointed in him with every pill and rooted for him when he got clean. I really liked his brothers and sisters. Plus he has an adorable nickname for Poppy.

My big issue is the timeline. Basically in reference to Fiend and his family. It seems like he was underage when he left home then add three years. The twins seemed older when he saw them. I just struggled with the ages since he was only gone three years. The characters were portrayed older.

Overall I did enjoy this and I sped through it as it is tragic. I do look forward to the other brothers getting their women too.

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Where’s Gramma? by Tricia Gardella – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Where's Gramma?Where’s Gramma? by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an adventurous Gramma! I love all the places she goes and things she does.
The illustrations in this book are wonderful and very detailed. My favorite is the mole’s home. This book would be perfect for a younger child so questions can be asked about what that Gramma is up to.

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Malice (Demented Souls Series) by Melissa Stevens – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Malice (Demented Souls #10)Malice by Melissa Stevens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a good story but I am not a fan of the writing style. Every detail and thought is mentioned more than once which means it takes forever for the story to move along. This style makes me bored and I tend to skim but no worries I did not miss anything. I know this is fiction but I can not fathom a girl immediately bonding with another guy let alone going to his place in the middle of nowhere especially after almost being kidnapped.

Other than the above the characters are nice. Not sure about an MC running a ranch but that is a different avenue. This seems to be a small group that are unique. I liked both the main characters and even his MC family.

Overall for me this story has its ups and downs. This is exactly what I expected from this author due to previous books I have read. I did not love it but also did not hate it. This is a book in a large series and I have not read any other ones in this series. So maybe there are running storylines making this even out a lot of stuff.

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Wrecked: The Merciless Few (The Merciless Few Series) by S Courtney – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Wrecked (The Merciless Few MC)Wrecked by S. Courtney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one is not what I expected out of an MC. Yes it has all the clubhouse raunchiness, attitude and they deal in pretty much anything. There are only four guys plus the prez so not a lot of different people to remember. They have the family attitude and it was a bit weird to see/watch Sam and Lucifer. I was surprised she would volunteer to be in the wet T-shirt contest (just seems out of character for the club mom).

As for the story I liked the idea of it. The female MC has struggles and shows she will do anything to survive. At times she has sass and while I get she was a bit miffed at her brother the way she blew up on him from the beginning made me wonder if his attitude towards her reflected that. I did like her story because she never quits.

Overall this is a good story with a lot of action and drama. On a personal level I really do not understand that Frankie. Good thing we did not see him being nice so we only know him as a monster.

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Shadowed Storm: A Shadow Defense Security Thriller Book 4 (Shadow Defense Security Series) by Mavery Ellscott – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Shadowed Storm (Shadow Defense Security, #4)Shadowed Storm by Mavery Ellscott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another wonderful story in this series. I honestly could not wait for this one. We saw the two MC in Finlay’s book and I wondered if something would happen between them. Now I know! This one is filled with action, suspense and drama with of course the romance between these two. The thrills really ramped up the last couple chapters and I kept looking at the page number vs how much story was left. I was nervous it would end badly or a cliffy but nope it was done well.

I love Alexis! Her job is intriguing and she seems unstoppable. I was hoping the ending would have her going back to Holt’s daughter since she idolized her so much. I feel this gal can do anything in any situation. Seb is a lucky guy and I see he realizes it as the story moves along. There are numerous other characters that pop in and out that add a lot to the story and help it get moved along. Some I wonder about others are gone as soon as I turn the page.

Hopefully there will be at least one more in this series.

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Wild King (King Brothers Series) by K.M. Scott – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Wild King (King Brothers #2)Wild King by K.M. Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This family really keeps me on my toes! They are all quirky billionaires who have had some trouble in their past. Their family squabbles always keep my turning pages as I never know what will truly happen, especially in the Game Room. In here we meet Salem who is a fixer and Boy does Kellen need to get fixed! I love how the author brings out his deep resentment of a few other characters which help cause him to need Salem. He is argumentative, smart and suave but he has met his match in her. These two together are hot and yet sweet. They have undeniable chemistry and she will not put up with any of his shenanigans! So sparks fly!

I am enjoying this series so far as this is the second. The story moves along at a nice pace and has a good flow. We get a sneak peek of the next and now I can not wait!

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Finding Hope: A Small Town Beach Romance (Half Moon Bay Series) by Erin Brockus – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Finding Hope: A Small Town Beach Romance (Half Moon Bay #1)Finding Hope: A Small Town Beach Romance by Erin Brockus
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is an okay story. It is slow moving and at times I struggled to stay interested. I like the idea of the story. Her taking over a resort and him being a diver was cool and at times (especially the dives) exciting. I enjoyed their relationship but sometimes it was almost too slow. Her attitude did not match her character periodically. I did not care for how she acted towards him when something highly stressful happened to him that was not his fault. He needed the care and kindness of a friend.

Anyway as stated before for me this is an okay story. In my opinion there is a good plot and interesting characters just a miss in putting them all together

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Wildfire Knockout (The Predator Series) by Brooke May – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Wildfire Knockout (The Predator #3)Wildfire Knockout by Brooke May
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really have mixed feelings about this one. I felt from the beginning I was dropped into the middle of a story. It was almost like the story is being told backwards then forwards then flashbacks are added. It really was confusing. I figured we would get her rising star story but she is already a star when we start and on tour with Franks. They have already “been together” so its just about him breaking her walls down so she will trust him enough to “be” with him. I did not really feel a connection between the two MC other than manager/client. Maybe due in part to the disjointed storyline.

I have read this author before and this is not my first book in this series. I find that some of hers I really like and others not so much. This one falls in the latter category. I was excited to read about a female MMA type story but this one fell flat for me.

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Be My Little Baby (London Detective Agency Series) by Stephanie R. Caffrey – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Be My Little Baby (London Detective Agency Book 2)Be My Little Baby by Stephanie R. Caffrey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a good second story in the series. This is a nicely done mystery/romance. The romance is quick and well done. The author puts enough extras in so it is difficult to figure out the “who dunnit”. We get to see how James will go about getting his girl and protect her from danger. We get a look into how James will go about getting her stalker and the trouble they get into. Things really pick up near the end and it all rounds out nicely.

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Word Play by Tricia Gardella – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Word PlayWord Play by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute story! Joe is on the hunt to learn to read. He seems a little overzealous in his efforts and forgets a few rules on his quest. This has good pictures and I loved his excitement and passion to learn. This is a nice story for younger kids to be read to but also a bit older children who can read to themselves

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“””Absurd,”” Said Bird : A Fun Children’s Adventure About a Mouse Who Dreams of Travel (Mouse Traveler) by Tricia Gardella – Review by ” Lisa Helmick

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“ABSURD,” SAID BIRD.: A mouse plans a trip to the moon. by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fun and entertaining read. I enjoyed the story and the characters. It has some nice rhyming and I like the name of the farm. The pages are filled with colorful illustrations that would keep any child captivated. I was surprised at the ending and wish mouse all the luck at grabbing some cheese.

This would be a good book to read to a younger child or a quick read for an older reader.

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Salt Love by Marika Ray – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Salt Love: A Summer Romantic ComedySalt Love: A Summer Romantic Comedy by Marika Ray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Such a Fun Story! I enjoyed this as it is filled with wonderful quirky characters. It has crazy times, sexy times along with secrets and family drama. I loved that everyone was brought together by a deceased loved one. The two MC started with a hate relationship and went through stages to reach the love. While Kenna, at times, seemed like a hot mess Dec came off as kind and considerate more than once. His secret was a surprise to me and I could see both sides of his story. Overall I liked these two together and the secondary characters add a lot to the story.

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Stout of My League (Love on Tap Series) by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Stout of My League (Love on Tap #4)Stout of My League by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a perfect last book in the series! We get to see the Lynn (the only daughter) and what her struggles are being the youngest girl with four older protective brothers. Also we get the conclusion of “What happened to Larry?” This one is well orchestrated and watching the parts fall into place is like putting a puzzle together. I loved all the characters and the budding relationship between Lynn and Joey is pure bliss.
I am sad to see this series end but such is life. As the author did with her previous series I feel we could see a few of them again as she does use crossover characters.

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Bad Enough (The Deadman’s Tribe Series Book 2) by Nicole Craig – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Bad Enough (The Deadman's Tribe, #2)Bad Enough by Nicole Craig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Super second story in the series! I was at a little hesitant because of the Dom/sub lifestyle but there was not a lot of that. Once I got past that the rest was amazing! Sylvan is so much more than just a writer. She is a surprise at one time or another. I do like how she is able to learn to let herself go. TB…I learned soooo much about him! The changes he makes are impressive. I really like these two together! They are magic together. The story kept me going and once things heated up I could not stop turning pages.

The Tribe!! OMG! They are incredible! They have quite the camaraderie and made me laugh out loud but also watching them work just together like family. That Nemo!! I can not wait for his story! He is going down hard.

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Spirit Guide (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 3) by Byrd Nash – Review by Lisa Helmick

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Spirit Guide (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #3)Spirit Guide by Byrd Nash
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This one is good but not written with the same flair as previous books. It kept me interested and engaged but this one I struggled with and more than once and just flipped forward past all the narrative. That did not bother me at all and I was able to keep up with the story. I thought this would be thrilling with Madame Chalamet have an apprentice. It was good but the girl is more of an irritant than a good addition to the story. I was expecting hi-jinks in regards to her but it was more serious.

Overall its an okay story. Not my favorite in the series. That sensual tension between the Duke and the Madame is palpable.

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One Quarter Villain by Cori Cooper – Review by Lisa Helmick

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One Quarter VillainOne Quarter Villain by Cori Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an entertaining story about a girl and the Beauty and the Beast story. I started off loving this. The flow and the characters were perfect. Maybe about half way through it seemed to slow way down. There was too much explanation and not enough movement. Then the story picked back up then slowed down again. So besides all that the story is cute. I really liked Leo and Maddy. They both do a good job and make the best of a bad situation. Secondary characters are plentiful. I really enjoyed Leo’s family and thought something might happen with all those kids and Itialian-isms.

Overall this book is creative. It has great moments that kept me turning pages.

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The Silent Forest (The House on the Hill Book 2) by David Kummer – Review by Lisa Helmick

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The Silent Forest (The House on the Hill, #2)The Silent Forest by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holy Smoke! This book just pulled me in and those last few chapters? I could NOT PUT this book DOWN until I reached the end. While its a soft ending( because there is another book) I did get some answers but after reading the acknowledgements….I think the next one will be crazier and dare I say scarier. This one has a lot of unknown and there were many moments where I had chills and was enthralled, scared (just like the characters) and looking for untrustworthy words from them all.

This is one suspenseful story! This is book 2 of the series and I highly suggest reading the first as this one takes place right after and there are many references to what previously happened. Looking forward to the next book as I am eager for all the answers on that house.

I am just sitting here going Wow! Just Wow! I hope I don’t have nightmares but dang what a good book!

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