Edge of the Storm: Book 2 by Lisette Kristensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Kick a$$ women, missions, spies, national defense, and code names. Super cool…
This is a quick read that is full of action and adventure.
Book 1 in the series should be read first to get the full experience of Halo and Blackbird.
Review by @mauraharper
Dracones Guardian by Sheri-Lynn Marean
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Who doesn’t love Archangels and the five fates and evil demon-infested angels???
This is one if those stories that is written in such detail – it was a visual read – it was like watching a movie in my mind. This is a relatively “long” story and it flowed well from chapter to chapter. There is a lot going on with a lot of different characters yet it was a fascinating read.
I look forward to reading more from this “new to me ” author
Review by @mauraharper
Say Something by Jennifer L. Allen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“You are not alone. You are not less than. You are enough.”
“…that’s what family did. They forgave you for your moments of weakness and selfishness and helped you move forward.”
This is one of those stories that is so powerfully simple and yet so complex at the same time. Those two quotes are an example of the wisdom penned between the covers.
I hope this becomes (is part of) a series. There are so many characters that I want to know more about.
I could go on and on about this book but I wouldn’t be doing it justice. It is a book that I would recommend to anyone that likes a clean story that has a purpose. The purpose is forgiveness of self.
I absolutely recommend this book!!!
Review by @mauraharper
The Vampire Queen by Brandi Elledge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am beginning to repeat myself with each review on books in this series…
What a great, quick read that is well written and took me on an adventure full of all the things that make this series wonderful.
There is so much that is just right about this series. The characters are well developed and no personality is wasted. It is a about friendships and frenemies and everything in between.
This is book 3 of the series and while it may be able to be read as a stand-alone, i think it would be better to read them in order.
Great book, great series, great author.
Review by @mauraharper
The Mourning Islands by Douglas Wells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
THE MOURNING ISLANDS is one of those books that I went into thinking it was one thing when it was really about something else. Well it was kind of what I thought it would be but so so much more.
This is a multi dimensional story that twists and turns along the way. The characters are well developed, the story is well plotted and it is an enjoyable read.
Review by @mauraharper
Fictional-ish by Natalina Reis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am a big fan of this author and was excited to read a rom com written by her.
This is a story that “on paper” checks all of my boxes. The blurb was right up my alley. In fact it felt oddly familiar as this happened to a couple of friends of mine.
I struggled with this book for a couple of reasons but if I told you why, I would be giving things away so I am going to “vague post” this review….
Don’t you hate when you hear that someone had really bad timing when admitting something and then expected things to turn into the fairytale? Me too. BEFs are real y’all.
This is a well written story and even though i found both MCs super annoying at times. The supporting characters were wonderful and i loved their support and encouragement.
I must admit that I read this story in accents – both Scottish and Australian and my accents are horrible. Lol
Review by @mauraharper
Out of the Box Collection by Jennifer Theriot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This boxed set features the complete OUT OF THE BOX trilogy.
This series is almost too realistic at times. It causes all the feelings to show themselves. At times it was like being on a roller coaster and other times like being on a calm lake in a quiet boat.
I cannot have imagined reading this trilogy one book at a time. Each story picks up where the last one left off. Characters continue to grow and change during the whole story. There are layers and layers to these stories. It is absolutely a multi dimensional story that has a very defined beginning, middle and end.
4 solid stars!
Review by @mauraharper
The Immigrant. An Italian in America by Gaia B. Amman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the seventh book in “The Italian Saga” which is a series of “coming of age” books. While you can read THE IMMIGRANT as a stand-alone, there are references to characters we’ve previously met. If this is the first book you are reading by this author, I imagine you will want to go back to the beginning to see how we ended up here.
The author is extremely detailed in her writing and at times I find it hard to stay focused on what the point is. Other times, reading this “journal” is so visual, it is like being next to the main character as she walks through her new challenges.
This is a series that I would recommend.
Review by @mauraharper
Squall Line by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have such a girl crush on this author. Everything she writes has a certain level of uniqueness that makes the story stand out. SQUALL LINE does not disappoint.
Is this the beginning of a new genre? Instead of bodice ripping pirates, we have kick a$$ women who aren’t afraid of “big, bad men”.
Great main characters and the secondary characters were also intriguing. This is going to be another great series from this very prolific author. The story flowed well from beginning to end and it held my attention for the entire ride.
I look forward to reading all future books by this author.
Review by @mauraharper
View all my reviews
Evolution: Awakening by Hope Anika
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When i started this story I thought I either had a bad copy of the book or it was a continuation of a previous story. Nope – it is just the way the author started this great story.
The story has originality, great world building, interesting characters and imagination. Told from multiple points of view, at times the pacing is so frenetic that it is maddening and other times it was just right.
This is one of those books that i will keep in my “to be read again” pile because I am definitely going to need to reread before reading the next in the series. I have questions that may be answered in a re-read.
The author is new to me and I will be reading them again in the future.
Review by @mauraharper
Crafting Love by A E Gamrat
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A couple of things happened as I read this book…
1. I want to create my own furniture
2. I’m glad I am still in touch with my “friend since the womb”
3. I really really want a Cricut(tm) machine of my own
4. Regarding 1&3 I always start strong with new adventures, but rarely finish so I will stick to reading about them 🙂
On to the review…
Quick character development. Strong female characters. Great friendships (even when they are annoying). Handy men who are handy. This book was a quick read that held my attention from beginning to end.
With the great world building in this story, I am looking forward to the next in the series.
Review by @mauraharper
Beachcomber Enemy by Stephanie Queen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the 10th book in the series starring Dane and Shana. Each story is full of adventure, suspense, romance and intrigue.
This series is consistent in its telling. The pace is quick and at times it is had me anticipating the next move.
This is a terrific addition to the series and is one of the shorter books. It can be read in one sitting and is very enjoyable .
Review by @mauraharper
Murder Among Friends by Linda Burson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book!!!
At times it was so detailed that I was rolling my eyes everytime someone’s name was mentioned over and over again. Just when I started to think the book didn’t have that spark I thought it would BAMMO the story takes on a life of its own.
This story is full of suspense and intrigue, red herrings and nosey neighbors. It is detailed and direct. At times it was jaw dropping and I am so glad I stuck with it.
Definitely a story i recommend
Review by @mauraharper
Tainted Saint by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
First of all – this cover is hot a.f.!!!!!
TAINTED SAINT is not a stand-alone, please don’t read it if you haven’t read the other books. Trust me, you will be doing yourself and this fantastic series a disservice.
TAINTED SAINT is a fast paced novella that is set in the Hawke Family setting. It acts as a bridge to the next story.
This novella is full of open door sexy times. I am a HUGE fan of this author but I must admit that I skimmed the sex scenes after reading the first time the MCs hooked up.
This story has the weight of a full length novel in that it has a very clear beginning, middle, and end. It has layers that I didn’t expect and look forward to reading the next in the series.
The Hawke Family Series is such a fantastic series it should not be missed.
Review by @mauraharper
Death and the Crone: Book Three of the Lucky Devil Series by Megan Mackie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ok, so I was hesitant to read this book because I wasn’t sure if it was satire or fan fiction or just a snub at the genre all together. I’m so glad I pushed my worry aside and cracked the binding.
The story line is one that we are familiar with but it has so many different angles that it is fresh and new (even though the characters are not).
I can’t go into much without giving away spoilers – I do want to say this though… It is listed as book 3 of a series and gives a vague reference to the series it is a part of. You know how there are those series or anthologies written by a bunch of different authors that have a slight common thread but don’t seem to really connect to the “theme”? This book is kind of like that. I really don’t think you have to read anything else in the series to have a firm grasp of the setting or plot points.
I say give it go; I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Review by @mauraharper
Perfectly Played by Holly Kerr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book by Holly Kerr is absolutely PERFECTLY PLAYED. It is a quick and easy read with closed door sexy times making this a clean romance.
The story moves quickly both in pace and in time frame of the book. Even with the pace, the characters are well developed, it is understood what role they play in the M/m’s life and every character has a purpose *even the dog and the neighbors*. The story presents itself as one that was well plotted and doesn’t waste time with too much detail or fillers to up the word count. While I could have done without two specific characters, I understand the part they play in moving the story along.
PERFECTLY PLAYED sets up as if it is going to be a series and I am very interested in finding out about the friends and siblings we are introduced to and hope that the author will continue with this theme.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good romance.
Review by @mauraharper
Trickster’s Hunt by Carrie Whitethorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’ve never read either of these authors before so wasn’t sure what to expect. The blurb pretty much spelled the book out, so I knew it was going to be a unique read. I read a lot of different things and this seemed to combine a few of the more unusual ones.
I’m not sure how these authors co-wrote the story – if they sat together in a room dictating to each other – or if they exchanged google docs and continued where the other left off – or if each had their own voice in a specific character, but the writing was seamless. Their styles meshed in such a way that it was a blended story.
I did not like the female protagonist. I found myself skimming through some of the more detailed parts because I was more interested in the general story than the nitty gritty annoying bits of her. The guys were interesting but let’s talk about the cat. “They” always say one should not work with kids or animals and I think that is true in this story. The cat (btw, I’m totally naming my next cat the same name) is one of my favorite cats I’ve ever read. So clever and witty and communicative.
This is the first book in a series so obviously it had to end the way it did to compel the reader to read the next book. I think the pace will pick up a little in the next one. I will be sticking with the series.
Review by @mauraharper
Problematic Love by Lara Ward Cosio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It is my opinion that this should NOT be read as a stand-alone. I think the series needs to be read in the order it was written to fully grasp the story behind the story of these characters. There are a lot of characters that precede this book who play an intricate role in PROBLEMATIC LOVE.
There is a huge world to this series. In each of the previous books, there is a realistic take on events happening and at times I have enjoyed reading the stories and other times I’ve been on the fence about them. This is one of those books that was just a little too realistic, a little too “problematic” for me. There are boundaries crossed, characters that I wanted to shake and tell them to step away to take a breath, and complex issues that I think were handled in a way that leads me to believe the author has some experience in.
I don’t want to recap the blurb or give anything away so it is difficult to explain what I am feeling. I’ve sat with it for a little bit hoping for the review to become clearer to me, but it’s not. It’s an entanglement of real life vs fiction that I sometimes struggle with – so I will simply say…
Read this book (after reading the others, of course).
Review by @mauraharper
MINX by Maggie Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is one of those stories that is right up my alley.
Good friends – check
Redemption – check
Humor – check
Quick read that held my attention – check
A little mystery to hold my interest – check
This book is on the shorter side and because of it, moves at a very quick pace. There were a couple of characters who I constantly rolled my eyes at (I’m looking at you Matt & Ritter) and I wanted to write them right out of the story and some of the situations were odd, but I found the story an enjoyable one and would recommend it.
I will be checking out other books by this author in the future.
MaddJax Series, Boxed Series Set, Book One & Book Two by Deborah Ann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
I read this as a boxed set containing both Book One and Book Two. I’m glad I was able read it this way as I am not sure I would have Book Two if it wasn’t the next page.
Told in dual POV, the story involves the “taboo ” step-sibling genre, the corporate CEO genre, and second chance genre (this is not a spoiler as it is explained in the blurb). It has very ambitious desires and sometimes it falls short and sometimes it was exactly right.
The characters are developed quickly, we are able to determine different things with flashbacks and the writer was able to move the story along at a decent pace.
Every single one of these characters bugged me at certain points – some by their actions, some by their inactions.
I always appreciate when an author puts their words on paper. While this is a well structured story, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Review by @mauraharper
Winging It by Lisa Gail Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a fun book this is. It’s light and angsty and funny and has fantastic world building.
It is the story about a 16 year old boy who has a life changing event happen and this the story about he he navigates then changes he is embarking on.
This is one of those stories that is light hearted and also has an underlying message about love and kindness and being a good “human being”. While I am not the target demographic, i thoroughly enjoyed this tale and look forward to reading the second book in the series.
Review by @mauraharper
Misfortune of Vision by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am really enjoying the “Druid’s Brooch” series and I am so glad each can be read as a stand-alone because I am reading them all wily nily out of order.
I leave for Ireland in 3 days and I will be sure and look for some of the landmarks that are mentioned in this intriguing series. Character development and storytelling is on point. The tales draw me in and don’t let me go until they are done.
This is a series I absolutely recommend.
Review by @mauraharper
Past Storm and Fire by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’ve read and enjoyed this author’s “Druid’s Brooch” series so I blindly went into PAST STORM AND FIRE based on her name alone. I wasn’t sure that I could write anything about this book without writing spoilers so I went back and looked at the blurb. OHHHH NOW it makes sense.
This book is told in past and present tense, dream and reality, and has a story within the story. It’s a complex tale that at times I had a hard time following. The historical portion of the story appears to have been well researched. There are certain situations that are written in the story that serve as background for why the protagonist is the way she is. At times I liked her and other times I felt like she was just so passive in what she wanted. Then I would warm up to her again.
There is a common arch that ties all of the parts of the story together. It took me a little bit to get into the rhythm of it because I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. It has a very clear beginning, middle, and end and while it is not my favorite by this author, I did find it enjoyable.
Review by @mauraharper
Secure Desire by R.L. Dunn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
In theory, this story is totally my jam… a romantic suspense with action and adventure.
I tried to stick with it, I really did. This is super multi-dimensional story with many many characters and many many details. The timeline is on like week 2 when we are 30% in (this is not am exact figure, it’s just how it felt).
I admit that I got lost in all the detail. We are essentially given the M/Cs CV and portfolio details 3 times by the same people in 3 different conversations. At one point I jumped ahead 50% and the same details were being relayed again.
I was very disconnected from this story and never warmed up to it.
I will say this: Assuming all of the information regarding BUD/S and medicine and art and security companies is factual, the author did an amazing job on research. I always appreciate the hard work an author puts into their craft. Not every book can be my cup of tea.
Blinded by Betrayal with Spin Drift by Lisette Kristensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a very quick read that features a prequel (part one) and the main story. At the beginning of the story, the author explains why it is written this way.
Both parts are very different from each other. Part One is full of open door sex scenes and Part Two is more of an action adventure.
The female protagonist is strong and determined and it was interesting to understand her methodology. In addition to the sexual/action adventure story lines, there is subtle humor.
This was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to readers who are cool being a “bit” voyueristic.
review by @mauraharper
Demon’s Angel: Satan’s Devils MC (Colorado Chapter) #2 by Manda Mellett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is book 2 of the Colorado Chapter of Satan’s Devils and I do not suggest it as a stand-alone. There is a very intricate thread from Book 1 and I think the reading experience will be better when read in order.
The author writes very detailed stories that i skimmed a few times to arrive at the conclusion. Some days my attention span is better than others.
This is an enjoyable epic tale of family. Multi dimensional characters, a very defined beginning, middle, and end and characters who I’ve become invested in.
I absolutely recommend this series.
Review by @mauraharper
The Queen of Witches by Brandi Elledge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
While this is Book 2 of “Wheel of Crowns” series, i believe THE QUEEN OF WITCHES can be read as a stand alone and still be enjoyed as much as if it’s read in order.
This is a quick and fantastic read that I ripped through between dinner and bedtime. Any review i write will not do this story justice. It has best friends and big brothers, cute boys and new powers and a dude named “Sammy”.
Action packed, this story is full of character and charm (and demons of course) and then pages practically turn themselves.
I absolutely recommend this story!!
Review by @mauraharper
Love & Ghosts by Carrie Pulkinen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I believe this is the first book I’ve read by the author and it won’t be my last. The writing is well plotted, the characters well defined and memorable and the cadence lent an easy pacing while reading.
I wasn’t 100% sure if this was going to be a horror story filled with darkness or something a little lighter. It IS on the lighter side with a bit of suspense, a wonderful romance, great friendships and some really quirky individuals thrown into the mix.
I read every word in this book from cover to cover in one sitting. The writing was detailed enough that i was able to visualize each scene. It was the perfect balance of description and brevity that moves the story along.
There are a couple of open door sex scenes and if i were recommending to an elderly friend’s book club, I would let them know I skipped “those parts” hehehe.
I absolutely recommend this book.
Review by @mauraharper
The Werewolf Queen by Brandi Elledge
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This new age supernatural story flows from the very first page until the very last. It’s a story that has humor, self-actualization, great world building, The story has Witches, Mind Readers & Healers, demons, ghouls, vampires and were-creatures, a cute troll, cute boys and all that comes in between.
The story is well plotted and while some of the dialogue is a little (I hate to use the word annoying) teenage girl-ish hehe. The female protagonist is “different” than the others and must at a different pace because of it “all good things come in time”. She and her best friend are Yin & Yang and it is my hope that every teenage girl has a “Jo” in their life.
This is one of those books that I am clearly not the demographic for but I found it super enjoyable. It has humor (“She was like a case of gonorrhea. She kept flaring up when you least expected her”) and emotion and all around great things. This did not feel like a story that had a lot of words as filler. I could go on and on about this story but then I’d just be telling you the whole storyline and you wouldn’t have to read the enjoyable book for yourself. So I will just say:
It is a fast read that I was unable to put down until I was finished and I’m super glad that I have the next book in the series downloaded.
This was a solid 5 star read for me.
Review by @mauraharper
Heels Of Fortune by Lynne Russell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
HEELS OF FORTUNE is book two in the “PJ Santini Series” and I don’t think the author suffered a sophomore slump with this installment to the series.
PJ Santini is a feisty, independent woman who is multi-faceted. She is a news reporter and a private eye. She has a sense of style and a sense of humor. She’s someone I would totally want to be friends with if she were real and wore my shoe size.
The story is fast paced, has great supporting characters who help move the story along and maintains its quirkiness, even as the characters grow. There is a very clear beginning, middle, and end to the story and is well defined. The way it’s written holds the reader’s attention from beginning to end.
I recommend this story, this series and this author.
Review by @mauraharper
