The Veil of Corruption by C.B. Lyall
Continuing on from the Virus of Beauty, after Wilf ends up helping the witches from a virus, his troubles still go on. During his help, the veil between the witches and wizards become corrupted. The wizards demand he fix it. During this, more relationships become to blossom, and more drama pursues. It’s once again another great read with more to come!
The Virus of Beauty by C.B. Lyall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This YA fantasy novel is very intriguing to read. You’ve got Wilf, a high school teenage soccer player who wants to deny he’s a wizard, and live his days peacefully in the human world. During his denial, his father passes away, and people start to appear for his help. The info Wilf needs to help with this virus is within the inheritance he received from his father. Before he can do anything, he must accept who he is, and love among them as well in their world. So much other stories are happening as well, and you keep wanting more!
saving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hansel, Gretel and their dad go on a walk through the forest to have a picnic. Gretel loves to draw the wildlife she sees. As they are walking, they ask their dad about the witch that lives in the forest. When Hansel and Gretel go on a walk by themselves they happen upon a gingerbread house and meet the old lady who lives there. She is not happy that Hansel, Gretel and the forest animals have eaten some of her house and make Hansel and Gretel stay to fix the house. The house is in a contest later that she wants to win. Gretel comes up with an idea to lead the animals away from the house and to find her dad. It takes a few tries, but is successful – and guess what?! The old woman wins the contest. The illustrations in the book are cute and it is a great new way to tell the story of Hansel and Gretel.
The White Knight Cowboy Stacy-Deanne by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a short romance set back in 1895. A young black woman flees her job after her boss is killed and find refuge with a 40 year old white man who she thinks is a safe person. She offers her virginity to him in exchange for safety. He maintains his gentleman state at first, but gives into temptation. I liked the overall idea of this story, but struggled with the sex. The book starts off with a history of where and when the story is taking place which helped me to understand the time period. I think if you like romance with open door sexy, you would like this – it just isn’t my cup of tea.
The Veil of Corruption by C.B. Lyall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the second book in this magical young wizard sequel, and I loved this book as much as the first one. I love how the author makes these stories her own and they are so different than other YA wizard book series. The world building in this series is fantastic and makes me feel as though I am part of it. I love that. The characters are so captivating and as enchanting as the story itself. I could not put this book down. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next books. I highly recommend you share this story with young adult readers that are into the Harry Potter and Shadowspell Academy series. Very enjoyable book and highly recommended that you read.
The Veil of Corruption by C.B. Lyall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
~ Reluctant Teen Wizard Savior ~
First of all, if you haven’t read the first book in this series, “The Virus of Beauty”, you will definitely want to pick it up!!! C. B. Lyall is such a unique author that tells stories in a way that just sits you right down in the plot and takes you along for the journey. You really feel like you’re in the adventure right along with Wilf, and finding things out as he does. This is the perfect YA for anyone who enjoys Magic, coming of age stories, family drama, or finding identity overtures.
Wilf continues in his quest for the righting the Magical Realm. Unfortunately he will not be able to return to his “Normal” life as he would wish it. As fate would have it, he is pretty important to righting the wrongs and correcting Beauty as the magical world knows it back to their normal state. He is sort of a catalyst if you will for correcting the undoings that are happening in their world. So whether he likes it or not, he has skin in the game. I absolutely love watching Katryna’s story meshing in with Wilf’s, they are absolutely adorable together, and watching her family try to come to understand their dynamic is interesting as well.
The take on the “Virus” gets explored further in the second book, and how that impacts entities (mainly witches) and their magic use. I haven’t ever read something quite like this before, so trying to understand the author’s message to the reader, and how she gets it there through Wilf and other main characters is very gripping. It makes you think in other words. By the end I just can’t quite accept what has happened to Wilf, and I need to keep reading…thankfully the third book is out, which I just can’t wait to read!!!
Thank you to the author for this incredibly fun series, and sharing it with the world. Lovely characters, fully dynamic quests in a very streamlined easy to understand world, and just wonderfully exciting.
Reviewed by @taylorkstephenson
What I Wish I’d Known: For Writers: 100 Authors Reveal What They Wish They’d Told Their Younger Selves by H. D. Thomson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a book written for writers and readers aspiring to become writers. I have always thought about writing an autobiography so I thought this would be an informative book to read for me. This has one hundred writers that provides useful and practical advice. I found this book to be highly informative as it provided a lot of information and behind the scenes guidance to help make your journey a little bit easier. Some of the advice given I never would have considered. This is a very enlightening look at the road to becoming and steering the path of writing.
Shameless Love by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Walter Bennett was head-over-heels for the supervising producer that came out to meet his sister about a spot on a local cooking show. But he was a country boy and she was a big city girl, ne’er the two shall meet. Then his sister agrees to try out for the show in the big city. How lucky could he get to travel as his sister’s chaperone. Elyse Farrell has worked hard to get to where she is today. She loves the excitement of reality TV and all that goes on behind the scenes to make sure it all comes together. But could she be happy settling down with the tall, dark, and handsome cowboy that is traveling with her newest rising TV star? A great weekend read that I highly recommend!
Reviewed by Terri Jo McAllister
https://www.amazon.com/review/R2M37DJ0FHNRFH/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This isn’t my typical type of genre to read but I wanted to change things up. I am so glad I did. Everything in this book was amazing. The world building, characters, and plot was on point. The language in the first few chapters was hard to understand but after you get past that, it was easier to understand. It was a fast paced and page turner book.
View all my reviews
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3893748064
Spirit Guide by Byrd Nash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Spirit Guide is the third book in the Gaslamp fantasy historical series Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries. I have enjoyed everything I have read by this talented author and the stories keep on getting better. I think this is my favourite to date.
Elinor our ghost-talking super sleuth and Tristan are at it again but when an old rival is involved things get tricky and possibly deadly when Elinor disappears. Where are the missing girls? Is the Society up to something are they hiding something? To find out you will have to read for yourself.
This tale has a little of everything to indulge the reader. It is mysterious and intriguing, with a slow burn romance, ghosts, history, séances, kidnappings and so much more.
Who doesn’t love ghostly whodunit’s? I can’t wait for the next instalment.
Reviewed by @jennadb
What I Wish I’d Known: For Writers: 100 Authors Reveal What They Wish They’d Told Their Younger Selves by H. D. Thomson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a very interesting and inspiring read. This is full of advice for potential writers giving them advice and insight into what it actually takes to become a successful writer. In this book we hear from 100 accomplished and successful writers as they tell us their secrets and their tips on what you need to do to start your dream of being a writer. All the advice is things they wish they were told when they started their journeys.
I was nice to get an insight into the working minds of some of the authors I have grown to love and seeing how each authors methods for writing is as unique as the authors themselves.
I would definately recommend this book for anyone who is looking for guidance to start writing.
Loretta’s Caterpillar by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a cute and informative book!!! I LOVE butterflies and so do my kids!! I got this book for my 8 year old, but I think that anyone who loves butterflies can see how great this book is! It teaches you a little about their life cycle, where they are and studied the most, the difference between mail and female, what eats them, what they eat, and just so much more!! I can picture a field of butterflies all taking off, but also a field of caterpillars hatching too!! So pretty!! In this book Loretta is the main character. She wakes up one day to see all the butterflies gone from the milkweed field outside her window. Where could they be?!?! She runs outside, but only finds eggs all over the underbelly of the milkweed leaves. She finds a specific one and wants to keep it. She protects it from a bunch on things (insects, birds, and lizards), watches it grow through metamorphosis, and then she and her family watch it become a beautiful monarch butterfly! One morning she watches all the butterflies as they fly away. Such an adorable book! Again it teaches you so much about monarch butterflies and their life process. Not taking away from the book AT ALL!!!!!!!!! Because it really is cute and my daughter and I LOVED it so much!!!! BUT I feel that if you read this book with your kid(s) and they LOVE it as much as me, you should grab the butterfly hatcher kit that comes with all the stuff you need to hatch your own butterflies at home! A friend of mine did it and also bought a milkweed plant for her yard. She gets to see them EVERY year, down here in Florida! So cute and fun! Plus they get to learn from the book and watch their own at the same time!!!!
Spirit Guide by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 Stars
Spirit Guide is the third book in the Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries series by Byrd Nash. This brings us another intriguing instalment in this captivating Gaslamp fantasy series. It is a paranormal cozy mystery with crime & investigation, sleuthing, ghosts, history, a moody atmosphere, intrigue, adventure, some humour, witty dialogue, slow-burn romance, dramatic developments, and interesting characters.
I have loved this series from the beginning, so there was never any doubt that I would be reading this new instalment as soon as it released.
Elinor Chalamet uses her mediumship skills to help solve puzzling mysteries. This instalment builds on the previous two books, providing a bigger picture as the mystery unfolds- also learning a lot more about Elinore along the way.
Our female ‘Sherlock Holmes’ is on the case tackling a mystery with:
Missing girls.
A mysterious séance.
Ghosts that become ‘real’.
A bumbling apprentice.
Secrets.
And a connection to her past.
It all leads to an intriguing, cleverly woven, fun little historical whodunnit mystery.
As with the other two books, it is fresh, and fun- with a period setting, wonderful characters, and a moody feel- which gives the whole story added intrigue.
This is a six-part novella series (with 3 more book yet to come):
The series consists of:
-Ghost Talker (Book #1)
-Delicious Death (Book #2)
-Spirit Guide (Book #3)
-Gray Lady (Book #4) – still to be released
-Underground Haunt (Book #5) – still to be released
-Ghastly Mistake (Book #6) – still to be released
I am looking forward to seeing what Elinor gets up to in the next book/s.
Bring on Book #4!
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Byrd Nash!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
saving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 Stars
“I didn’t know a witch could have a pretty house,” said Gretel. “What’s she like?”
“I’ve never met her,” said Dad, “but I’ve heard she has a cauldron where she
makes potions. She kidnaps children and makes them work for her. And maybe
she eats them. So, no matter how pretty her house is, stay away.”
Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom is a charming children’s fantasy story with interesting and colourful illustrations, plenty of fun, and adventure. It is an original take on the classic ‘Hansel and Gretel’ fairytale.
This is another quirky story from Ms. Wickstrom’s seemingly limitless imagination. It was both engaging and fun.
Hansel and Gretel set off on a picnic in the woods, but soon get lost. They stumble on a gingerbread house and so their adventure begins.
Looking forward to more from Ms. Wickstrom.
Happy reading…
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Shadow Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Shadow Wolf by Lilliana Rose is the first book in her new Protector Wolf Shifter Series. It is the beginning of the love story between Tamaska and Kodiak. Human Tamaska hires Shadow Protection to help guard the auction of a rare and magnificent Blood opal. Little does she know that the detail is made up of Wolf shifters led by the handsome Kodiak. The action begins quickly as local vampires steal the jewel and emotions rise. There are some steamy scenes and plenty of intrigue. It did end fairly abruptly so be ready to clear some reading time when the second book becomes available.
Reviewed by @WhisperHymer
His Protector by Sara Vinduska
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
His Protector by Sara Vinduska is an enticing romantic suspense that had all the ingredients to keep me engrossed in the story the whole way through. It is the first book that I have read by this author, but after enjoying being between these covers, it certainly won’t be the last.
It is an action-packed romantic suspense with plenty of danger, chemistry, emotion, steam, and more. The characters are well-developed and interesting individuals with their own personalities quirks and flaws. It was easy to connect with them and I found myself fully invested in them and the outcome of their story.
We have the widowed president of the United States, and a sexy Secret Service agent who will do everything to protect him in the line of duty. With an Assassination plot that places him in extreme danger she will need to fight her growing feelings if she is going to keep him alive. Things are about to get tense…
Looking forward to exploring more of Ms. Vinduska’s work.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Ms. Vinduska!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Emissary by A.L. Morrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
Emissary by A.L Morrow is a Star-Crossed Celestials Duet companion novel, a prequel of sorts to “Watcher” (Book #1). This is a MM paranormal romance full forbidden love, Angels & Demons, action, battles, drama, celestials, adventure, emotion, tension, angst, self-discovery, mystery, chemistry, and steam.
This is an enemies to lovers forbidden romance that all MM fantasy readers will definitely want to get their hands on.
Looking forward to the next instalment.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, A.L. Morrow!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
How To Write A Historical Novel And Love It by T.L. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There has been a lot of time and energy, as well as research, put into the writing of this book. In this practical guide, T.L. Clark shares tips that she’s learned from her many years of writing. She does so with a bit of humor sprinkled throughout too!!
One of the most helpful tips that I gained from this book was the research that needs to go into the “when” aspect of a historical novel. There is an outline of different time periods that are typically written about, which includes the British set versus the timeline of the United States. I actually felt like I was reading a history novel in and of itself, which I found very enjoyable.
While I do not have aspirations to be a writer, it was nice getting a glimpse inside the brain of a writer and learning some of the groundwork that goes into the novels that I enjoy reading so much! There are so many things I had never considered that goes into the research and reading this book gave me a much better appreciation of the finished products that are published.
How To Write A Historical Novel And Love It by T.L. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 Stars
“So, we’re getting a good idea of the setting/backdrop for your novel. Like one of those historical portraits where the artist would paint the background in advance and then paint the people in during the sitting. Or a cartoon artist of yesteryear hand-painting beautiful scenery as the backdrop to animate characters upon.
We’re thinking about the era and year, and adding in thoughts of leadership, morality, laws, key events, weather and living conditions.
~ Decide which era captivates you.
~ Look up who the ruler was and if there were any power changes/struggles.
~ See if there are any interesting events which intrigue you.
~ Select your year/s.
~ Think about which season/time of year it is.
~ How did they measure time?
~ Did any major weather activity occur?
~ Were there any natural disasters?
~ Basically, what perils lie in store? What could potentially kill your character/s?
So, now you know your ‘When’, it’s time to dig into ‘What’.
What Type of Book Are You Going to Write?
“That’s easy. I’m going to write a historical novel, that’s why I bought this book,” I hear you cry….”
How to Write A Historical Novel and Love It by T.L. Clark is a practical guide to unlocking your inner historical novelist. This will take you through the process of writing, covering everything you need to know in a fairly comprehensive yet easy to understand manner. It gives us a look at the bigger picture of writing a novel, with the author sharing wisdom, tips, insights, and helpful pointers that will guide you through the entire process from conception, researching, writing, formatting, editing, publishing, and more.
My advice to you if you have always longed to put pen to paper is to- Get. This. Book. Now.
Happy Reading (and writing)…
Thank you, T.L. Clark!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Exposed by Lea Cherry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 Stars
Exposed is the third and final book in the Descendants series by Lea Cherry. This is an engrossing young adult urban fantasy with witches, magic, high stakes, family, friendship, and adventure.
Amy has been through quite a lot especially since her was completely upended after discovering a whole new world that she never even knew existed- as well as learning ‘who’ she really was. She feels adrift, with a target on her soul- loss and betrayal weigh heavily on her. She’s ready to give up- but will need to dig deep if she has any chance of saving the day. What happens here makes for a great read.
Looking forward to reading ‘Star Light’ which is the first book in Ms. Cherry’s new fantasy romance series, the ‘Elesseand Saga’, due to release mid-April (2023).
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Lea Cherry!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
The Man In Black by L.R. Liverpool
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was an interesting read. It was a MM thriller mystery that was set in the Wild West. This was different than my normal read but I thought it was interesting non the less. It was well written and I enjoyed the main characters. The story was engaging and I enjoyed the story over all.
Happy Reading!
The Exchange: A Novel by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow wow wow! The twists and the turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Sam wants nothing more than to follow her dreams (and run from her past). Nothing turns out how she thought it would be. She finds herself in a desperate situation where she must rely only on herself to get free. The tears and heartbreak are real, but who doesn’t love a book that breaks you a little.
Three Made in Heaven by Elena Kincaid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Madeline is 9 years old when she first meets Charlie and Cole. Even though they only see each other in dreams, they build a friendship as the years pass. There was an instant sense of connection which only grew stronger over time. Their attraction to each other also grew. Even as Maddie grows up and has relationships in the real world, she feels as though she is betraying Charlie and Cole.
However, once the nightmares start, their relationship moves into the real world. Charlie and Cole are determined to find the person who is tormenting Maddie’s dreams. When dreams turn into reality, Charlie and Cole are determined to keep her safe. Will they be able to stop the nightmare from becoming a reality?!?
This was a quick and easy read. It was an interesting take on a fated-soulmates storyline. There was a lot of steam…so be prepared for that. I enjoyed the “dream walking” aspect and found the reason they all met intriguing. Overall, a good story that I enjoyed reading.
Ruthless Hawke by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jack is Issac’s past that he never has been able to get over. With unforeseeable circumstances Jack’s back in the picture and in danger. Soon he realizes Jack’s daughter is his and that he missed out. Fate has a way of catching up with what’s meant to be regardless of circumstances. Very good book I highly recommend.
The Exchange: A Novel by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was wild. I have never read anything by the author but that changes now. What a twist and turn, heart pounding read. Sam was a great character that seemed very well thought out. Her story had my brain short circuiting. I was up all hours of the night after reading this just thinking back on the story and recuperating all the feelings i spilled on the floor while reading it. A very interesting read and definitely worth sticking through until the end!
What I Wish I’d Known: For Writers: 100 Authors Reveal What They Wish They’d Told Their Younger Selves by H. D. Thomson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While much of the advice given by various authors was the same or similar, one thing that really stood out was their encouragement to not give up and go with your gut. I had not heard of most of the authors but still found them inspiring and have added several to my TBR list. As someone who enjoys writing myself, I found it inspiring and motivational. Each person went through their own trials and tribulations and proved that you can persevere if you put the work into it. HIGHLY recommended for anyone considering writing your own books.
Deadly Intentions by Anise Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Anise storm is legendary, this specific book wasn’t my favourite which is understandable due to the fact that so many of her others are. The plot was great, the characters complex and held all the chemistry. There was just something missing for me, which is a personal problem and not something that reflects on the author or the book! It is well written and gives all the spice and thrill. I read in one sitting because like all of her others in my library, I needed to see what happened! Was not disappointed with the ending!
How To Write A Historical Novel And Love It by T.L. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Such a GREAT read. This is a fabulous place to start if you are looking for answers to some of the hardest questions in writing historical books. This tells you how to go about the research and fact finding processes. Then there are tasks at the end of each section in the book to help you along. This book while not all encompassing in EVERY single resource is a great stepping off point for the beginner historical novelist.
Loretta’s Caterpillar by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I like how imaginative this book is. Even though it’s based on the life cycle of monarch butterflies, this short story manages to entertain the reader and breathe a bit of imagination into the narrative. I found that I’ve learned more about monarchs through this book than I had previously and could still thoroughly enjoy the story. The illustrations are easy to decipher and the storyline itself is easy to follow. The notes from the author at the end of the book also were insightful and gave me a sense of purpose and wish to follow through on getting some milkweed in the future. I would definitely recommend this book to those who have inquisitive children!
The Thieves by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was first introduced to this author by reading the first book in The Millersville series, The Lodge. The Thieves is the second book in this high-stakes entertaining thriller.
It is a crazy and fast read and easy to get lost in. The Thieves is not as dark as the first book with its quirky characters that are well developed and will make you laugh out loud and at times feeling sad.
With family bonds, best friends, a heist, action, chase scenes, and some twisty plots you are sure to enjoy this tale. The twist at the end was quite the surprise.
This suspense thriller is adventurous as our MC embarks on a heist with guilt but a good reason. But when her loot is stolen the fun begins.
It’s one of those books where you can escape reality with a drink and sun.
