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Tink (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter Book 1) by D.M. Earl – Review by Lucy Machard

Tink (Devil's Handmaidens MC-Book One)Tink by D.M. Earl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very fast paced book! Loved the HEA, and the plot line. The writing style was different from what I’m used to, and it took me a bit to get used to it.It does have very heavy content material, so please proceed with caution and take breaks as needed. I normally don’t read a lot of MC books, but this one was pretty alright! Mafia still has my heart, but if you love gangs, justice, romance, and some kick-butt fighting, then I would definitely recommend this for you.

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How To Write A Historical Novel And Love It by TL Clark – Review by Lucy Machard

How To Write A Historical Novel And Love ItHow To Write A Historical Novel And Love It by T.L. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So this book is PACKED with lots of amazing tidbits! Not only tidbits on writing, but also on history itself. I definitely learned a lot, and hopefully when the time comes I’ll be able to implement it in my own writing. Any new indie author looking for that extra bit of help and assistance from a seasoned author- this is definitely something you need to read! I highlighted and bookmarked so many helpful things, and they way it was put together made everything flow and easy to understand!

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Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Lucy Machard

Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1)Ruthless Hawke by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, I read the prequel to this a couple months ago, and lemme tell you, I was not expecting how this book started. The author does such a good job of keeping your attention! I couldn’t put the dang book down! I was so addicted to it! Also, Isaac? The best. Absolute chef’s kiss. “There is no god, only me.” I was swooning over this man and their chemistry for so much of the book. Definitely one of my top books of the year so far!!

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Manipulator’s War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 1) by Elise Carlson – Review by Lucy Machard

Manipulator's War (Ruarnon Trilogy, #1)Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Right off the bat, this book had my full attention. I loved seeing an LGBT+ main character for the series, especially one so well written! Honestly what really captivated me was the wit of Ruarnon’s personality. There’s a lot of world building in the first chunk of this book, which is to be expected with it being a fantasy trilogy. This is my first book by this author, and I’m really impressed with it! The writing style is very detailed, and reminds me almost of Tolkien’s work. It did take me some time to get through it all, but I really enjoyed it and I do recommend it!

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Deadly Intentions by Anise Storm – Review by Lucy Machard

Deadly IntentionsDeadly Intentions by Anise Storm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(Spoilers)
I’ve read a lot of other books by this author, and she’s an author I recommend to a lot of people. I was really excited to start on this book, and it hooked me right from the beginning. Make sure you look at the content warnings before reading this book, as it does have some graphic scenes regarding SH, suicidal ideation, as well as SA and conversations about terminating pregnancies.

As I said, this book had a really strong start- revenge plot, against the MMC’s dad, Mafia romance, dark romance, forced proximity, and instant attraction. However, as the story progressed, I honestly kept disliking the MMC. I’m a fan of red flags waving in the review mirror, but honestly the MMC of this book almost made it hard to enjoy. He treated the FMC like utter trash up until like 90% of the book. And the way he was going to force her to terminate her pregnancy? No ma’am, no ham, no turkey!

I’m not a stranger to dark romances, heck, I’ve read most of the major ones on BookTok, but the way he just kept treating her throughout the book just made me disinterested in the romance sub-plot. The spice is there, but the plot just wasn’t for me. It might be your cup of tea, once again just read the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, but it wasn’t a book I overly loved. However, I do still recommend this author and her other works! Go check them out!

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Sessrumnir (Antipodes Series Book 5) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

Sessrumnir (Antipodes, #5)Sessrumnir by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay, the beginning of this book threw me. I even went back to book 4 to make sure I hadn’t missed anything, so right off the bat I was deeply invested. What a wild rid this book was! As always with this author, packed full of adventure and full of twists and turns! The ending was so sweet though, I can’t imagine what book 6 has in store for us.

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Caim (Antipodes Series Book 4) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

Caim (Antipodes, #4)Caim by T.S. Simons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(SPOILERS) (CONTENT WARNING: Self Harm/SA)

Honestly I’m waiting for the day this series gets a TV contract. This would make such a good show. Always full of twists and turns, and of course, the drama. It starts off I think 6 or 7 years from where the last book ends, with Cam and Frejya with a full brood of kids. There’s adventure, action, and even some mystery. And of course, there’s a moment in here where I try not to bawl my eyes out. I know books need to be dramatic for readers to keep reading, like movies, but Jesus Christ, can Cam and Frey finally catch a break? Like cmon… make someone else suffer for once! My heart can’t take it!

However, I do wish there had been a bit of a content warning at the beginning, because there is a graphic scene of self harm, as well as a graphic scene of a character being forced against her will.

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Ouroboros (Antipodes Series Book 3) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

Ouroboros (Antipodes, #3)Ouroboros by T.S. Simons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book definitely held my attention better than the first two. It is a switch POV book, and we get a larger look into Freyja’s life since the Virus. There’s a lot of reconciliation and healing in the first part, which I absolutely adored. There’s a lot more about the other societies and (small spoiler) about the true plans the governments had for the communities around the world. I wonder what book 4 has to bring!

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The Liminal Space (Antipodes Series Book 2) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

The Liminal Space (Antipodes, #2)The Liminal Space by T.S. Simons
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, what a place to start after the end of Antipodes! This book was pretty good, once again it took a bit to get through all of it, but I liked it. It does have some plot twists that were executed very well, and had me on the edge of my seat. You definitely see a little more growth with Cam in this book, and let me say- it is so FULL of drama, and I liked it! The ending has you ready for the next adventure, which I’m ready to dive into!

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Antipodes (Antipodes Series Book 1) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

Antipodes (Antipodes, #1)Antipodes by T.S. Simons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m not normally a sci-fi person, I lean more towards fantasy. But this was a good book. A little scary, considering the way the world has been with covid over the past couple of years, but still good.

It is a bit of a slower book. It took me a couple days to work through it, although that could be because I recently got promoted at work and I don’t have as much time I used to read. I really liked the writing style, and that the author put footnotes in the book for some Australian or Scottish phrases that as an American, I wouldn’t fully understand. On to book 2!

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The 45th Parallel (Antipodes Series Book 6) by T.S. Simons – Review by Lucy Machard

The 45th Parallel (Antipodes, #6)The 45th Parallel by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another new POV switch right from the get go! I was so excited to get a glimpse into the newest character view and to see where we left off from book 5. I loved the adventure that this book dived into, and I think it’s my favorite out of all 6 books! I loved seeing the new adventurers, and it was a nice installment after the ending of the last book. After reading all of them, if you’re someone who enjoys adventure, sci-fi, and a little romance, these are the books for you!

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Married Blind (King of Screen Book 2) by Morgana Bevan – Review by Lucy Machard

Married Blind (Kings of Screen, #2)Married Blind by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book by this author, and I DEVOURED it. It’s been snowing like crazy where I live, so what better time to pick up a steamy romance. It is a little lengthy, but the author is such a phenomenal writer and she sucks you in with every turn of the page.

I fell in love with Finn on page one. This man, yall. This man. Holy smokes. I love a good slow burn, but this one made me want to just throw some logs on the fire! It’s so perfect. Just watching the characters battle against each other and deny how they feel- chef’s kiss.

I’m in love with this book. Absolutely in love with it. I implore all of you romance readers to read it. Both books in the series can be read as a stand alone book, which is how I’m reading this one. Get yourself a copy, a cozy blanket, and some tea to curl up with because this book will not disappoint!!!

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Night Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Prequel) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Lucy Machard

Night Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation #0.5)Night Hawke by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is like a habanero pepper: short and full of spice. This was the first book I’ve read by this author, and as a novella, I liked it. It’s a quick read- I was getting my car fixed this morning and I had it done by the time they finished working on my tire. I’ll be looking forward to the actual first book in the series, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Jack and Hawke! The author does a fantastic job at pulling the reader in instantaneously, I do recommend!!

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Practically Pagan – An Alternative Guide to Magical Living by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Lucy Machard

Practically Pagan - An Alternative Guide to Magical LivingPractically Pagan – An Alternative Guide to Magical Living by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. One hundred percent, I recommend this to anyone trying to find their way back to internal happiness and internal peace. The tone of the book to me feels like a patient mother or teaching showing her daughters how to push back societal expectations of women to learn how to find what benefits happiness and peace. She talks about finding your inner Divine Feminine, as well as taking pleasure in simple things in the world, and decluttering your soul as well as your life. I don’t think I’ve highlighted a book so much. I know I’ll be getting a physical copy soon and re reading it over and over again, and trying my best to pull from it to let go of the things that hold me down. Every one should read this, even if you don’t believe in Paganism. There’s not a lot of theology or ideology in the book, it’s simply said, about living the best life you can in a world that doesn’t prioritize the individual or individual happiness.

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Minotaur’s Lair (Servant of the Gods Book 3) by Luciana Cavallaro – Review by Lucy Machard

Minotaur's Lair (Servant of the Gods, #3)Minotaur’s Lair by Luciana Cavallaro
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’ve been a huge fan of Greek mythology since I was a kid, and I’ve read a lot of fantasy books based around the myths. Finding mythos/fantasy books as an adult can be pretty hard.

I liked this book. I read it as a stand alone, but it is part of a series. I thought it was interesting how they took a modern day man back to the time of the ancients. It’s an interesting story, and I find the plot almost a little strange, but not bad.

One thing I did have a slight issue with though as someone who has studied history and religion, is how some of the Argonauts used the phrases Baal and Molech as curse terms, which by the time ancient Greek society would have come around, wouldn’t have been the mainstream gods worshipped, especially because those gods were worshipped in another region of the world. (Ancient Babylon, specifically)

It was nice to take a break from romance novels and jump into an action novel. I did like the book, and if you’re into mythology and action, this is the book for you!

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Much Ado About Dying (Guardians of the PHAE Book 2) by Rowan Dillon – Review by Lucy Machard

Much Ado About Dying: An Irish Urban Fantasy Novel (Guardians of the PHAE #2)Much Ado About Dying: An Irish Urban Fantasy Novel by Rowan Dillon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow, what an unexpected ending! I really enjoyed this book, it’s long like the first one, but you get a bit of a better feel for the characters and more understanding of the world, since most of the world building happened in the first book. I also loved that we got to connect with the old gods of Ireland more, and got more insight to the mythology and history surrounding the country. Just like the first, there’s another very helpful pronunciation guide in the front. This book is definitely full of its own twists and turns!

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Taming of the Few (Guardians of the PHAE Book 1) by Rowan Dillon – Review by Lucy Machard

Taming of the Few: An Irish Urban Fantasy Novel (Guardians of the PHAE #1)Taming of the Few: An Irish Urban Fantasy Novel by Rowan Dillon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it’s definitely an interesting story. It’s almost an Irish X-Men story. The character development throughout the book is something I enjoyed. The book is fairly lengthy, and took me a bit to go through. The writing style is also a little more complex than what I normally read, but I did appreciate that there is a pronunciation guide in the front of the book, considering that while I do have Irish roots, I don’t speak the language very well. If you love modern fantasy/urban fantasy, then this is definitely the book for you!

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Love Tools (Bluestone Series Book 1) by Isobel Reed – Review by Lucy Machard

Love Tools (Bluestone Series, #1)Love Tools by Isobel Reed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely fell in love with this book on page one. It completely sucked me in, and the tenacity of the main character had me smiling throughout the whole book. It’s a quick read, pretty mild, but it’s still a gorgeous love story. Of course, there were moments when I wanted to smack both of them upside the head. It has such a wonderful ending, and I’m 100% looking forward to the next book!

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Love Tools (Bluestone Series Book 1) by Isobel Reed – Review by

Weep, Woman, Weep: A Gothic Fairytale about Ancestral Hauntings by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Lucy Machard

Weep, Woman, WeepWeep, Woman, Weep by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book took me a bit to get into. At first I was a little confused on what was going on, but as the story progressed, the more I couldn’t put it down. It’s a beautiful book of overcoming the past, and letting old wounds heal and to stop letting the past mistakes rule your life. I absolutely loved this book, it’s a perfect gothic horror with a gorgeous ending. I can’t recommend this book enough!

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The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily – Review by Lucy Machard

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn RanchThe Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was interesting. It honestly took me a while to fully get into it. The writing style seemed a little stiff and formal, and to me personally didn’t feel like it flowed well. The book seemed really drawn out with a rushed ending. It’s a great story though, and I wish we got more from the romance with the two leads than what we had in the book. Hopefully, there’s a sequel coming soon and we can follow along with Emma’s story even more!

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Degrees of Innocence: Dark Mafia Romance (Cruel Deceptions Book 1) By Via Mari – Review by Lucy Machard

Degrees of Innocence (Prestian Series, #1)Degrees of Innocence by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is fan-freaking-tastic. It’s full of twists and turns, and of course as is the typical with any mafia romance, full of steamy romance. I’ll be completely honest with you guys, I actually forgot this was a mafia romance until about halfway through the book. I loved the characters chemistry, and honestly while if it was in real life, I’d find him full of red flags, but I loved, loved, LOVED Chase. I absolutely devoured this book, and I know that the rest of the series is just as worth it. This author is amazing and I can’t wait to read more books by her!!

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Lucy Machard

And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’d heard a lot about this book in some of my friend’s circles, and I knew I had to give it a try. What a book. This is one of the most riveting books I’ve read, honestly. It’s a story of clarity, mystery, and a search for truth. I’m not someone who reads a lot of psychological thrillers, but this one was so hard to put down! I loved watching the development of the characters as the story went on. The determination, the suspense, just everything about it is utterly fantastic. Highly, highly, recommend this book, and this author!

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Ice Dance by Vik Azeem – Review by Lucy Machard

Ice DanceIce Dance by Vik Azeem
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So this book is definitely an interesting book. Like, not in a bad way, but it’s definitely like nothing else I’ve read before. It is full of humor though, and it’s a whirlwind of action that moves quickly and takes the reader on a ride for sure. I did enjoy it, and it’s perfect for this colder weather and fits right in with the holiday if you’re someone who enjoys “seasonal” reading. Definitely give it a try!

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Elemental Fire (The Hidden Realms Book 1) by EG Manetti – Review by Lucy Machard

Elemental Fire (The Hidden Realms #1)Elemental Fire by E.G. Manetti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holy smokes! Pun slightly intended. I mean, the title should have been indication enough that this book would be, in slang terms that match my GenZ self- absolutely FIRE. It’s an absolute perfect mix of my favorite genre and one of my other favorite genres- Modern fantasy mixed with a great mystery. It’s almost like Shadowhunters, but more adult. It’s a fantastic read, a bit of a longer book, but it is amazing. I’ll for sure be looking forward to the rest of the series and I’ll be on the watch for more of her books. I can’t recommend this to enough people!! Run, don’t walk to get this book!

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Bycatch by Alexander Blevens – Review by Lucy Machard

BycatchBycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a riveting tale of justice, forgiveness, and how old wounds affect us more than we know. As someone who loves history, sometimes it’s easy to forget that people were part of making that history and that their lives were impacted so deeply from it. This book follows the story of two Vietnam vets and their children, and does a great job of showing the cost of generational wounds. I absolutely loved this book, it sucked me in and pulled me under and I just couldn’t put it down. I look forward to reading more books by this author!

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Cooked: The Chef Blows Her Lid by Cari Schaeffer – Review by Lucy Machard

Cooked: The Chef Blows Her LidCooked: The Chef Blows Her Lid by Cari Schaeffer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book combines two of my favorite things- books and food. As someone who used to (and still does) dream of one day being a professional chef, this book gave my heart so much joy. It’s mixed with heartbreak, adversity, tenacity, and humor! Honestly, this is a book I’ll probably make my mom read! It’s a bit of a longer book, but it’s so worth it! I was enthralled with it from the first page! The author really knows how to suck the readers in, and I look forward to reading more books written by them!!

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Soliloquy by Janet Fogg – Review by Lucy Machard

SoliloquySoliloquy by Janet Fogg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book kinda started slow for me. I pulled it out at work during a slow period, and at first I couldn’t really get into it. And then it sucked me in! So if you find yourselves in the review section for this book cause you’re second guessing, I’m telling you- keep going. This book sucked me in so hard and fast! It’s the perfect book to read in the evening with a cup of tea or cocoa. The ending absolutely killed me! It’s got that perfect mix of romance and adventure, I loved it so much!

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Fighting Chance by Toni Denise – Review by Lucy Machard

Fighting ChanceFighting Chance by Toni Denise
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and I LOVED it. It’s a steamy slow burn, but it won’t take long to read! I loved the romance between Chad and Kendall, and I wished we got a little bit more, but simply because I didn’t want the book to end. I’m not sure if it was just the app being weird, but when I was reading it on my phone it was in italics, but on my kindle it was regular formatting. However, if you’re debating on reading this book, don’t hesitate any longer! You won’t regret it!

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Mafia Elite Series Box Set Volume 2 by Amy McKinley – Review by Lucy Machard

Mafia Elite Box Set: Volume TwoMafia Elite Box Set: Volume Two by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ever since I read the first book in the Mafia elite series, I’ve been a die hard fan of this author and of these books. Every single book is utterly fantastic, full of action, romance, and adventure. I always recommend these books to pretty much everyone I know. Every time I pick one up, I can’t seem to put it down! This author is very good at making her readers get lost in the book, to the point where if its a day I only meant to read like 30 minutes before bed, before I know it, my husband’s already asleep next to me and it’s two in the morning! This author is honestly a word-smith, weaving words into some of the best books I’ve ever read. I cannot recommend these books enough!

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Divided Lives by K.R. Mullins – Review by Lucy Machard

Divided LivesDivided Lives by K R Mullins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is set in the early 1900s, following the main character as she manages her “divided” lives. Since it is the early 20th century, of course queer relationships are extremely unheard of and are definitely kept under wraps if they exist. I do love the queer romance, and as a queer person, I felt it was written very well. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the book, I did, but it did seem to be moving a little bit slower. I think it took me about three days to fully finish, but then again, I have been in a reading slump. I’ll honestly probably have to go back and read it again, but I did like the writing style, and I will be on the lookout for more of this author’s books.

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