The Secrets They Hide: An Italian Murder Mystery is the second book in series…and the author did not disappoint! P.J. Mann sets the mystery in Rome…and I mean you should know that most great mystery stories come from Rome…or at least that’s my opinion! This is my first read by P.J. Mann, and I will definitely be going back and reading the first book in the series. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading the first book just to get the feel of Detective Scala, and all of his quirks. Detective Scala has found himself in a unique predicament on trying to solve a recent murder mystery, and he will stop at nothing to solve the case! Detective Scala is stubborn in every aspect of his life, from the way he deals with his family to the way he eats his sandwiches! I won’t say much more because I don’t want to give away too much, but I will say I don’t think you will be disappointed! The writing style kept me reading nonstop until the end, I really enjoyed the detail that P.J. put into the storyline and development of the characters. I truly look forward to reading more from this author soon!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-07-28 07:29:332023-08-03 14:30:30The Secrets they Hide (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome) by P.J. Mann – Review by Mary Espinoza
My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez is my first read by this author, and I would say that it’s a cute little rom com with the main characters of a writer named Tessa and a scientist named Simon. The way that Anna describes the characters and their lifestyles, we can conclude that they are opposites, but it’s like the old saying goes…. opposites attract! Simon and Tessa happen to meet on a flight and Simon finds that he can’t stay away from the spontaneous author. Tessa finds Simon interesting and herself attracted to him and decides to invite him all around the world with her, but Simon quickly finds out that Tessa won’t move on to the next step of committing to a relationship. Of course, there has to be some sort of conflict, or it would be a very short book, less interesting story. Tessa’s refusal to settle down with Simon isn’t their only predicament, they live on different continents, have different lifestyles, and Tessa suffers a loss that she just can’t seem to recover from. This was a good read, but I found myself wanting more. The only thing that I can say is pick up the book and give it a go, you will have to determine for yourself if it was worth picking up or not, I don’t think that you will be one bit disappointed!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-07-10 07:51:132023-07-17 07:03:32My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez – Review by Mary Espinoza
A Toast for Laurent is the first book in the Vine Valley series by Theresa Paolo. It is about small town second chance romance with twists, turns, friendships, romance and possible love. Of course, everyone knows that a love story needs some intrigue and drama…and Theresa Paolo didn’t disappoint in bringing that aspect into the story. We are introduced to Laurent and Phoebe, and the story takes us back to twenty years ago when they made a promise to marry each other if they were both still single when they reached forty. Unfortunately, Laurent finds himself heartbroken after a spicy night with Phoebe, and she disappears without a word! Even though Laurent is heartbroken, life goes on and he finds himself tending to the family grapevine and doesn’t think about love, then after all those years Phoebe is back! Phoebe has the intent on seeing her and Laurent’s pact through, but what does Laurent think of the plan, especially after the pain she caused. What happens next makes for a fun read that is hard to put down! I’m a sucker for a good book with love and drama! Theresa Paolo did a good job of making sure that you knew the backstory as well as what was currently going on, I didn’t feel like details were left out, she did a great job! This book is the first in a new series, so I will definitely be reading each new instalment as they release. Looking forward to A Thirst for Franc (Book #2). Happy Reading!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-06-27 12:55:442023-06-29 07:14:34A Toast for Laurent (Vine Valley Book 1) by Theresa Paolo – Review by Mary Espinoza
This is the first book by this author that I have read, and it won’t be the last! The main character has to make a tough, life altering decision to either defend his country or his family. The honor and devotion the main character had was great and it added a lot of dynamic to the storyline. This book can be read as a standalone, but after reading it, I really feel like the storyline would have even more meaning by reading the two previous books in the series. I enjoyed the authors writing style, and the way that story developed with the characters and challenges that popped up along the way. The author captured and brought to life the mentality of a warrior and the struggles that they face when it comes to their passion of defending the land they live on and the love of their families. I normally don’t read this genre of books, but I was not disappointed! I would definitely recommend this book to a friend, and I am going to go back and read the first two books! Happy Reading!!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-06-16 07:15:452023-06-19 14:30:16The Hussar’s Duty (The Winged Warrior Series Book 3) by Griffin Brady – Review by Mary Espinoza
Have you ever made a huge mistake, and quickly learned that sometimes the lesson that was learned was worth it? That’s what happened to Toby, she was a dog trainer who would visit the local prison, and quickly finds herself attracted to John, a man who has been convicted of murder. Toby helps John escape from prison and finds herself on a journey that she never could have fathomed. Toby describes in great detail her experiences from meeting John, to helping John, to her time in prison for the crime of aiding a convicted murder of escape. To me, this book was a good read, it shows the audience what she was feeling and thinking. It was a page turner, and I am a huge fan of true crime and this book didn’t disappoint! I truly feel that if you are a fan of true crime, you will enjoy this book! And just remember, in the words of Toby, “You are more than your greatest mistake”
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-06-14 07:17:282023-06-19 11:05:47Living with Conviction: A True Crime Memoir by Toby Dorr – Review by Mary Espinoza
This was my first read by the author and I can say…I wasn’t disappointed at all! I found this book to be a thrilling murder mystery mixed with quite a bit of movie and musical references, which just made the book that much better! Darcy finds herself in a unique situation as being a number one suspect to murder! Darcy just can’t fathom how this predicament came about, but the one thing that she knows is that she needs to find a way to prove her innocence. This was a fun small town mystery that had plenty of twists and turns! I enjoyed every second of reading this book. I found out that this book was part two of a series, but not once did I feel lost, the author did a great job of writing the backstory into this book. I will be going back to read the first book because this one was so good! I definitely recommend reading this one as it was definitely enjoyable!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-05-26 05:38:012023-05-30 07:58:04Concert Hall Hit (A Darcy Gaughan Mystery) by J.C. Kenney – Review by Mary Espinoza
This is my first book by this author, and I didn’t find myself disappointed with this book! To me this was a fast paced read and was filled with tons of emotions. This was based on a true story, and was overall a well written story. I enjoyed the amount of detail each character had and how the author brought the story to life with the turn of each page. We are introduced to a man named Leo who is trying to find love after his divorce. He finds that trying to balance life with 3 children and looking for love might not be all it’s been cracked up to be! He finds himself being surrounded after one disastrous woman after another! But the month of November rolls around, and Leo finds that he is introduced to 3 different women who might have the capability to alter his life for good! I enjoyed the emotion, laughter and overall world that has been brought to us by the author. This book was a great read that was hard to put down once I started it! I definitely recommend reading this book!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-05-17 20:21:222023-05-24 13:55:02Three Women in November by Jim Shomos – Review by Mary Espinoza
Cabin Eight is the third book in The Millersville Series by Susan Specht Oram. I found this book to be like the previous two and had it’s fair share of lies, suspense and deceit. Miranda (the main character) is well developed and find herself in multiple situations that I feel will leave you on the edge of your seat wondering what happens! Tensions are at an all-time high as Miranda finds herself facing some of her greatest fears! Miranda is trying to seek solace at a mysterious remote resort, and she finds herself faced with much more than she could ever have imagined. Miranda has no stop when it comes to her curiosity being peaked…it’s how the old saying goes “curiosity killed the cat”, will Miranda find herself as being next? There are plenty of horrors, dangers, conspiracies, games, and twists and turns that make for an interesting read. The only way to find out what dangers Miranda gets herself in to, is to read the book!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-05-01 15:25:382023-05-03 13:51:48Cabin Eight (The Millersville Series Book 3) by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Mary Espinoza
The author has done it again! I truly enjoyed Shore Lodge which is the first book in this series, I highly recommend reading it so you can get a feel for the town and the development of the characters in this book. To me, this book wasn’t as dark as the first one, but was equally as entertaining. Jasmine or Jas (the main character) loves her dad and just like any girl who loves her dad, she is willing to do anything for him. When her dad springs on her that he has a devastating lung disease that doesn’t have the best hopes for recovery, Jas start to think of ways to help her dad. She steps in and does what any daughter might do for their dad, or would they? Jas works for a man who doesn’t have the best reputation and is downright shady, especially with his had in laundering money. She decides that she needs to take a risk and steals the money that is needed to get her dad into a treatment center. Next thing she knows is that sirens, badges and being stranded on the side of the road quickly become her future.
With all of these exciting new things happening to Jas, she quickly has to learn who her friends are, aren’t and even finds herself making new friends along the way. She is on a “vacation of a lifetime” trying to get her dad to treatment. This book has all the feels involved…. there’s plenty of laughs, maybe a few tears and of course a huge dose of mystery.
This book was a pretty quick, entertaining read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. You just never know who’s going to show up, what’s going to happen and who it is going to happen to! Is Jas the only thief or are there multiple thieves? Does Jas get her dad the help that he needs or are her efforts a complete bust? The only way to find out is to read for yourself!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-05-01 15:12:022023-05-03 13:50:39The Thieves (The Millersville series) by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Mary Espinoza
Wow! What a thrilling read! From the beginning till the end, I was hooked, even though there were a couple of times I had to reread a paragraph or two just to make sure I understood what the author was trying to say with her story. Other than that, this was very well written!
The story begins with introducing us to Jacklyn Stone, who has recently lost her husband, and as expected she is absolutely crushed and heartbroken. Nothing is working out how she had planned and imagined it would. The bank accounts aren’t adding up like they used to, she’s had a fender bender, misplaced her keys, and overall is having a good run of bad luck! She’s beginning to wonder if all of this has to do with the grief she’s experiencing or if something more is contributing to her newfound chaos.
Dusty Stone (Jacklyn’s son) is a contractor and has recently convinced his mom to give him power of attorney over her health and finances. He’s truly concerned that his mother is really losing her mind and Dusty just feels like his sister needs caring for their mother.
Rose Stone (Dusty’s sister & Jacklyn’s daughter) is a hard-working single mother doing everything she can to provide for her son and now has the task of also taking care of her mother. While she’s not trying to neglect her mother’s needs, she agrees with her brother that their mother needs to be assessed and admitted to Shore Lodge. This will help Rose tremendously with a much-needed break from the double duties she has recently inquired.
Now that Jacklyn has been admitted to Shore Lodge as a resident, there are many disturbing and horrific situations that come about. Jacklyn handles several different situations to the best of her abilities. Does Jacklyn come out of these situations ok, did Dusty and Rose make the right decision by having their mother admitted to Shore Lodge…the only way to find out is to pick up the book and read it on your own! I promise you will not be disappointed!!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-05-01 14:38:502023-05-03 13:49:52Shore Lodge by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Mary Espinoza
Amy’s Rebellion is book one in the Gemstone Massacre series by Julia Goldhirsh. I would consider this a dark urban fantasy. There are plenty of encounters with romance, magic, danger, drama and so much more! I will let you know right now that there is quite a bit of references to the LGBTQ+ community with the gender fluid characters that are introduced in this book. The world that the author has built is a unique feel to it. This is the first book that I have read by Julia Goldhirsh and so I wasn’t sure what I was going to be reading, I wasn’t disappointed, but I really didn’t feel like it was my style of reading. To me the book was very busy, and I had a hard time keeping up with everything that was going on, like I said so much more…lol! I did like that Julia built a world full of fantasy and had some wonderful characters, even though at times I was confused with the pronouns that were being used. I think I would have had a different outlook on the book if I would have known previous to reading it that there was a prequel. Maybe reading the prequel will help with some of the confusion and busyness of the book. Like I said, overall, an interesting story. I think I’m going to have to read the prequel to see if maybe my outlook on this book changes some. All in all, still a book that was very readable.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-04-24 15:24:072023-04-28 13:05:46Amy’s Rebellion (Gemstone Massacre Book 1) by Julia Goldhirsh – Review by Mary Espinoza
This is my second read by Landra Graf and like Operation Pinpoint, this book did not disappoint. Operation Escape is the second book in the Space Force Rejects series, and just like Operation Pinpoint it is a unique and original sci-fi tale with a little bit of everything. I definitely suggest reading the first book in the series because I feel that you would be lost without doing so because quite a bit of the storyline and characters intertwine. There are experiments, DNA altering, loyalties being tested, and so much more that you won’t know who can be trusted and who cannot. To me, the characters of the crew have kind of a Guardian of the Galaxy feel, there’s the heroine that tries very hard, a science experiment, and some aliens. The variety of characters gives the book an interesting feel and makes it even more entertaining. What started off as a simple mission ends up leaving Sera and Markus fighting for their lives on an unknown and hostile planet. Believe me when I tell you that this new world is full of action, plenty of danger, and what’s good story without some adventure and romance. This is a book that should be given a chance because I promise you won’t be disappointed, like I said earlier….read the first book!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-04-20 10:39:542023-04-28 11:58:10Operation Escape (Space Force Rejects Book 2) by Landra Graf – Review by Mary Espinoza
Rogue is the sixth book in The Talisman series by Tam DeRudder Jackson and is my first time to read a book from this author. This is a paranormal romance with quite a bit of steamy romance, deceit, magic action, mythology and so much more! Baz (the main character) finds out about a huge lie that has been hidden from him and now he’s not too sure about his life choices and about the path that his life is on. As a rogue warrior, he has definitely had his fair shares of going to hell and back and now finds himself wrapped up in the middle of a supernatural battle. He also discovers that there are some high stakes and things are not looking good at all. Delany (other main character) is a talisman-warrior who happens to also be a hybrid, has found herself doing nothing but protecting her warrior community for as long as she can remember. She has now found herself in a unique predicament, not only has she been kidnapped, but she also has to fight her fatal attraction to the ‘enemy’. Will sparks fly or will she be able to accomplish her task at hand and be able to defeat her enemy? This book actually happens to be the sixth book in a series, I read it as a stand-alone book, but I really suggest reading the rest of the books that come before this one. There were times when I found myself very lost and confused. Now I will say that the book was entertaining, I just felt like there were times when things weren’t described or refreshed from the previous books. But nonetheless, great job to Tam!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-04-12 11:32:382023-04-17 13:09:33Rogue (The Talisman Series) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Mary Espinoza
C.A. King has done it again! She never fails in writing a book that gets me hooked right away! In this book we are introduced to Dr. Frank Enstein and to Barbara. Unfortunately Dr Enstein has always had some tunnel vision when it comes to his life and what his goals are. Most of this comes from a traumatic event that happened to him when he was a child. Dr. Enstien is a plastic surgeon but his goal in life isn’t to took on boobs and butts, his goal is to help trauma patients, especially burn victims and when the opportunity finally arrives he jumps on it! Well little does he know that one night while out with his co-workers he runs into Barbara the bartender, and she is about to turn his world upside down! Unlucky for Dr. Enstein, his first meeting with Barbara did not go his way one bit. He comes off as rude and when the next encounter with her happens he starts to feel bad about how it went when they first met. Barbara has some issues that are putting a crimp into her everyday life, and she hopes that Frank can be the one to help her. But as time goes on Frank realizes while he cannot help Barbara with her issues, but maybe his old partner can. What he does realize is that he has fallen for Barbara and she is the woman that he has been wanting and waiting for. I won’t say much more about the story line because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but I will say that is was a great read that wasn’t very long. Even though it is what is considered a short read, C.A. doesn’t leave you hanging and gets right to the point. This book reminds you that you shouldn’t judge based on appearances.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-04-07 22:43:182023-04-17 12:17:50Doctor Frank Enstein (Doctors of Eastport General) by C.A. King – Review by Mary Espinoza
The Silent Road by S.N. McKibben is about a long-haul truck driver with some MM romance. There is plenty of emotion, blended with quite a bit of complicated family dynamics, anger, angst, a sexual discovery of sorts, a quest for redemption, and drama. The book has a “Brokeback Mountain” feel to it, but instead of the characters being cowboys, they’re trucker drivers. The characters are presented with complex personalities and flaws which made it hard for me to connect with them. The one thing that I didn’t care for was that the only point of view came from Dan, the story’s main character. We ‘hear’ Dan’s point of view throughout the story, but we never really find out how the other characters feel, or what they are thinking, which added to my frustration because I like to have a story with multiple points of view so I can piece things together easier. I don’t know much about long-haul truck driving, so to have some of the difficulties that the truck drivers face on these trips helped me understand some of the dynamic that the author was trying to put into the storyline. I will say that I thought that was a very interesting part of the story. Another thing that was mentioned in the story was the difficulty that Dan faces being recently divorced and trying to give his daughter the best life that he can. The family dynamic hit close to home in that area due to me being a child of divorced parents. Dan has so much to process in the book between being on the road long days and hours, his family issues and now his feelings that have developed and have left him utterly confused. I hope that this read is a little easier for some of you, I will say that is was definitely not what I was expecting, but overall was a pretty good read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-04-05 14:10:532023-04-07 11:37:33The Silent Road by S.N. McKibben – Review by Mary Espinoza
I now know why Kelly, the author of the short stories decided to call the book Insomnia! This is a book with several short stories that leave you thinking about the what if, the what happened, and the what the heck did I just read?! I found myself lost in the multiple short stories, some of them left me wondering what happened, some of them left me thinking…oh my! I’m not much for scary stories…I’m a big scaredy cat! But I did find this book to be very entertaining! Great job Kelly with writing amazing short stories that kept me captivated! There is a little bit of mystery, a little bit of chills and a whole lot of thinking that goes into reading these short stories! You will not be disappointed!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-04-05 13:20:082023-04-07 11:37:15Insomnia: (A Short Stories Collection) by Kelly Covic – Review by Mary Espinoza
What is there not to like about a book that has the Disney Fairytale feel to it?! This book was a fantastic fantasy read that I feel young readers would really enjoy! I mean come on there’s fairies, magic, adventure, evil villains, witches, and castles it has everything that the world of fantasy needs. The novel is being told from Zarina’s point of view; she is also the main character. Zarina is a spoiled princess, (like the evil sisters from Cinderella spoiled) with quite a bit of older siblings. And as tradition would have it, she is about to have very her own Royal Advancement. And being the spoiled princess that she is, she has to have the best, most extravagant dress that the kingdom has ever seen, and even though there are plenty of troubles brewing in the kingdom, the only important thing to the Princess is having this amazing gown for her big day! Deals were made, but like always, anytime you make a deal… it doesn’t come out the way you thought it would. Now, Zarina has to make a choice on whether or not she is going to come to the rescue of her family’s kingdom. Does Zarina stay the spoiled princess or does she grow up and fight for her kingdom? The only way to find out is to pick up the book and get lost in the world of Zarina and her kingdom.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-03-27 13:52:322023-03-29 10:16:11A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small – Review by Mary Espinoza
A stranger in disguise…. the title is what truly piqued my interest. I didn’t know when I picked up the book that it was part of a series…as a matter of fact it is book #4 in the series! I read this book as a stand-alone book, and it didn’t disappoint at all, I actually plan to go back and read the other 3 book at some point in time. This story is centered around multiple murdered bodies as an actors’ troupe is set to perform the cursed play, Macbeth. I mean come on…Macbeth…nothing good ever comes from the play Macbeth!
This book was a fast read, yet very interesting. I have never read anything from P.J. Mann, and I will say that I wasn’t disappointed! The author had a great way of leaving enough hints to keep you hooked, but not too much to where you figured out the mystery! There were plenty of twists and turns in this book and it kept you wanting more! The banter was another cool thing, P.J. kept the book original by introducing how you think the banter would be…especially between Inspector Scala and his colleagues, to me this was highly realistic! There were times when I felt like I was also a detective working right beside them trying to solve the mysteries! I don’t think that anyone will be disappointed reading this book!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-03-17 09:06:012023-03-20 09:03:00A Stranger in Disguise (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome) by P.J. Mann – Review by Mary Espinoza
First of all, let me start by saying this is not usually the type of genre that I am into, with that being said, I will say that this book was an interesting read. It had a weird vibe to it, but like weird in a good way. I found the story had a fun vibe to it in regard to the storyline of June and Sarge going on missions to help the aliens. I mean…come on…it has aliens, what’s not interesting about aliens! It was nice to see that June’s kids, Cora and Liv were involved in the story and weren’t just introduced and then not really mentioned again. The girls both seemed like great girls, who were very intelligent, especially when it came to the work Liv was doing to help her dad. I did find that the relationship June had was odd and did find myself thinking it was weird that she was with Sarge, they came off as having more than just a partner relationship and friendship. All in all, I found that it was a fun story with adventures they all have, the research that was done, and the unique characters that are introduced along the way.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-03-13 10:22:072023-03-16 09:55:43Mission 3047: One Soul’s Fantasy by Stuart Ledwith – Review by Mary Espinoza
I love to read fantasy romance and this was really up there! I would have to say this is one of the best ones I have read in a very LONG time. This was the first book I had read by Nicole E. Kelleher and I had no idea that I would be so impressed! Nicole truly blew me away with this book! Wild Lavender is a wonderful first book in the Heart & Hand Series and I am really anticipating the next book! Nicole has such an amazing way of creating such a beautiful world! It is a fast-paced read, that has mysteries, romance, danger, and tons of chemistry. I recommend giving Wild Lavender, a chance and you’re going to fall in love with the world that was beautifully created and interesting characters. Happy Reading!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-02-26 19:23:302023-03-02 13:57:55Wild Lavender (Heart & Hand Series Book 1) by Nicole E. Kelleher – Review by Mary Espinoza
So let’s talk about nostalgia! I mean come on, every girl that was in middle school had to deal with drama at one point in time. I found that even though True Colors was a novel more geared towards the middle school aged audiences, I still found it entertaining. I found myself able to read the book quite easily as an adult who hasn’t been in middle school for a very long time! The author did a good job of touching on many of the topics that middle school girls go through on a daily basis! There were mentions of the trials of friendships, of course self esteem issues, bullying, we can’t forget the notorious gossiping, and of course trying to find your way through middle school and preparing for high school, oh yes and I almost forgot… boys! I personally do believe that this is a well written novel that many pre teen and teenage girls would enjoy reading. The book was not overly long, and was written on a level that they would be able to understand. Great job to the author for making such an age appropriate, entertaining book for the younger generations of females.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-02-19 21:06:262023-02-20 11:30:42True Colors (Landry’s True Colors Series Book One) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Mary Espinoza
The Man in Black is by L.R. Liverpool, and I would describe it as a gritty thriller with some drama, action, adventure, MM romance, mystery, history, and more. It did take me a few chapters to really get into the storyline, but once I continued reading on, I found that I was able to get into the storyline. It was interesting to find that it had a bit of a documentary/memoir-esque plotline, which made it more interesting. In the storyline, we follow as Fenimore (Simon) leaves home on his journey to become a famous outlaw. Fenimore’s adventures begin and not too long after that is when the story starts to take off. Of course, as you will find in any good action book, there’s a lot of suspense and mystery, but the biggest mystery of all is The Man in Black that Fenimore can’t stop thinking about. Fenimore quickly discovers that these romantic feelings are quickly brining complications to the situation. But he can’t help but wonder where does the Man in Black fit into it all? There are so many details that are in the book, that you will have to find out on your own by reading The Man in Black. Happy Reading!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-02-14 09:50:542023-02-20 09:06:32The Man in Black by L.R. Liverpool – Review by Mary Espinoza
What a brilliant dark romance by an author who is new to me, I have never had the pleasure to read one of her books…. until now! Brooke did not disappoint one bit! I had no idea what I was going to get when I picked up her book and let me tell ya’ll…. she delivered! To me, this book had a great deal of intensity and romance, and I was not expecting such a well written story, like I said Brooke is a new author to me. The way she develops the story, and the characters drew me into the story immediately and she developed a world and what was going on around them so wonderfully. I found that this book had me thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading. Brooke had me wondering what was going to happen next, and of course gave me an excuse to sit down and read more! I will have to say that Brooke did a wonderful job on this novel, and I can’t wait to read more books by this author, she definitely has a talent for creating wonderful characters and has a knack for great world building! Happy Reading!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-02-07 07:46:272023-02-08 12:28:19Hit on You by Brooke May – Review by Mary Espinoza
Bees in Loretta’s Bonnet by Lois Wickstrom is a children’s book that is fun and informational for all ages! This book like many of Lois’s books, aims to teach children about bees (leafcutter bees, more specifically). As always, the illustrations are brilliant, vibrant and really help to bring the explanations to life. Lois has a way of writing books that portray observations of your surrounding and how to handle situations that may occur. It also shows children the importance to have compassion towards insects in general. This is great learning tool that shows the different situations from a child’s point of view.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-02-07 07:29:062023-02-08 12:27:59Bees in Loretta’s Bonnet (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Mary Espinoza
These books definitely didn’t disappoint one bit! Gwyn put as much into these books as she did in Night Hawke. I seriously found myself reading these books every chance I had…these books were 100%-page turners! I found myself lost in not only the steamy parts of the book, but the mystery and back story as well. Gwyn has a talent for creating in-depth story plotlines and characters with intriguing skill! And yes, there is a lot of steamy scenes, but what I really enjoyed is that it is not purely sex-filled romance, but there was plenty of action and suspense, which really created deeper stories.
Savage Collision: Savage….what a name…and what a man! Gwyn has a way of describing a beautiful character with a kind soul, but of course is described to be as hot as a man can be! But with every kind soul, there’s a past lingering its ugly face in the background…and Savage has to deal with that and more!
Savage is introduced to a woman named Dani…has Savage met his match when it comes to Dani? Is Dani falling for Savage…will their relationship work out beyond “friends”…there’s only one way to find out and that is to read the book yourself! I promise you…this is a page turner that you will not want to put down!
Tortured Skye:
The second book in the Hawke Family Series, and it was as good as the first book! Gwyn may honestly be one of my new favorite authors! This book was well written and didn’t lack in anything! Skye and Gabe are the two main characters in the second book, and there were times when the author had me wondering how these two were ever going to connect! But like the other books I have read by Gwyn…she magically found a way to bring everything together! She writes with such detail and has this way of creating world’s that you can easily find yourself lost in!
I really enjoyed Gabe and his story, his journey was a unique one, and Skye just adds to the plot! There’s emotion, attraction, passion, and so much more! I hope that you find yourself as lost in the books as what I was!
Wow!!!!…. really, I mean wow! Once again, Gwyn has not disappointed one bit! In a way I think that the series has gotten even better in these two installments. The author has upped her game even more by providing intriguing, page-turning storylines. Like any good family dirt…there are secrets that run deep in the first two books, and more secrets are revealed in these next two books, which really helped suspense and the world building!
Stone Sober: This one was interesting and had a darker vibe than the others. Stone is introduced to a woman named Nora, and the two of them find that they are drawn to each other, but there’s one problem…they are not at all alike. There are plenty of secrets, darkness and just the overall unknown that creates tension that keeps you turning the page to find out more and to try to learn more about Stone and Nora!
Building Storm:
Storm finds herself in a unexpected situation and is trying to piece her life back together after what can only be described as losing it all. She has to try to be strong because she has her daughter to look after and is trying her best to live life through all of the pain that she has endured! She isn’t looking for love but lo and behold, apparently love has found her! And the hardest thing for Storm is that she has been through so much, that she doesn’t even realize that love has found her! Landon McCabe is looking for a fresh start after being a man on the run. He figures why not start fresh in New Orleans…nothing can go wrong there…right?! Well let’s just say that Landon and Storm find themselves both coming from broken situations and have no idea that the healing compound is each other! You must read in order to find out what else goes on between Storm and Landon!
Like all things…. the series has come to an end with these last 2 books, I’m sad to see this series come to an end, but it was definitely entertaining while it lasted! Gwyn built a wonderful world, with amazing characters that all had unique characteristics and backstories that truly captivates the reader. Gwyn didn’t disappoint with these last 2 books and gave it the proper ending without leaving you thinking what if or that’s it!
Tainted Saint: This book was a shorter read than the previous 4 books but was still satisfying and entertaining. It was nice that Gwyn made sure that all of the characters from the previous stories continued to find their way into each book….and this book was no different! There were familiar characters, romance, steaminess, mystery and secrets!
Caroline is introduced in this book, and she has found out that she has an eye for Saint, a bouncer of one of the clubs. Does Caroline also catch Saint’s eye or is she in for a rude awakening? Gwyn didn’t go as in depth with this story, but she still continues to provide the reader with a story that has plenty of twists and turns!
Steele Resolve:
When I say I didn’t expect an ending like that…I mean it was truly unexpected, but still a satisfying ending to an amazing series! We met Byron in the first book of the series and wonder what happened to him? Well Gwyn waited until the last book to bring Byron back as a main character, and it was worth the wait! He has been featured as an amazing loyal and enjoyable supporting character, but I was glad to see that he got his own story in the series!
This book would be considered another quick read, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t full of emotion and suspense! Steele…is she good for Byron, is she bad for Byron? Does poor Byron even know which way he needs to go…will his heart win or will it be his family that gets the last laugh? This story takes us on an adventure with Byron and his journey of who he is.
I’m sad that the series is over, but I can’t complain with how Gwyn ended it. It was well thought out and very entertaining! All I can say is Happy Reading!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-01-12 15:23:402023-01-16 15:06:01The Hawke Family Complete Collection by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Mary Espinoza
Holy Moly!! Talk about hot!! If I was able to give 10 stars…. I would in a heartbeat! This is a prequel to the Hawke Family Second Generation Series, and I definitely recommend reading! It’s a super quick read but let me tell you….it is an attention grabber from the first paragraph! I truly couldn’t put this book down…. the book had me thinking…. Christian Grey who! I’m not going to give away anything from the book, but dang…there’s a LOT of spicy! You want to talk about secrets, romance, plenty of emotion, and of course hot as hell spice! This was an extremely entertaining book and I sat down and read this in one sitting and was beyond prepared for the next book! And let’s talk about the way the author leaves us on a cliffhanger?! All I have to say is that I’m ready for the next book, and I 100% recommend this book…especially if you’re into hot romances with a little bit of mystery! Happy Reading!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2023-01-10 08:05:062023-01-16 14:44:17Night Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Prequel) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Mary Espinoza
The book The Labyrinthine Journey by Luciana Cavallaro was an exciting and entertaining read. I was definitely entertained by this book, since I read the third book first! So, I had a sense of what was going on, and let me tell you…. this book is just as entertaining as the third book. It is a story that pulled me in from the beginning and kept me entertained until the final page. This book that has action, danger, and Greek Mythology. I loved reading about the character of Evan and seeing how his character was portrayed in this book. He has been ripped from everything he knows in the 21st century and now is having to live a new life in ancient Greece. His father is Zeus and Evan is having to figure out how he is going to get back to the 21st Century. Evan finds out that he is going to have to go on a quest to find ancient relics in hopes that they will help him on his journey back home. Evan finds himself facing many trials and tribulations! All I can say is this book is a must read in order to find out if Evan is successful in his journey or not! Happy Reading!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2022-12-30 11:47:552023-01-06 21:29:42The Labyrinthine Journey (Servant of the Gods Book 2) by Luciana Cavallaro – Review by Mary Espinoza
First of all, let me start with saying…I’m not a normal person and hardly ever read books in order! With that being said, Minotaur’s Lair is the third book in the series and was wonderfully written! This novel could be just read as a stand-alone book, and you wouldn’t be lost! Now I will also add that the story is much more interesting if you read the previous books in the series as well. I actually went back and read the second book, now all I need is to read the first book! This was a fantastic and detailed read, that drew me in and made me feel like I was right there with the characters. Luciana Cavallero has such a unique writing style that is so strong that you can vividly imagine what is happening. This book really ends on a high note! Which is a lot to say because sometimes when you are reading books that are part of a series, you feel like you were left high and dry and didn’t get a great ending! I for one am very intrigued when it comes to Greek Mythology, and I loved the Greek mythology element that Luciana added to this book. She included quite a bit of information that I was already aware of. I really enjoyed going on Evan’s journey with him. Luciana created a wonderful character that you felt like you were right next to on his journey, and that is despite the fact that he is a twelve-year-old young man! I hope that you will enjoy this page turning book as much as I did! Happy Reading!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2022-12-30 10:53:262023-01-06 21:29:14Minotaur’s Lair (Servant of the Gods Book 3) by Luciana Cavallaro – Review by Mary Espinoza
Super cute children’s book with stunning illustrations! I have never really thought about where pirates go on vacation! The author did a great job with the rhymes and keeping the book simple and to the point. There’s plenty of room for the imagination to roam! Great job on a super cute, wonderfully illustrated book!!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2022-12-28 19:56:562022-12-30 07:49:20Where Do Pirates Go on Vacation? by Kim Ann – Review by Mary Espinoza
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Mary E Espinozahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMary E Espinoza2022-12-22 21:39:242022-12-30 06:27:14Much Ado About Dying (Guardians of the PHAE Book 2) by Rowan Dillon – Review by Mary Espinoza
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The Secrets they Hide: A Commissario Scala Mystery (Book 2) by P J Mann
