The Wolf’s Shadow by Cecilia Dominic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was such an interesting and fun book! I loved the unique take on werewolves and the romance was amazing. This was a great way to start a series and definitely made me want to read the others in the series. I think fans of Nalini Singh would really like this book, as well as the other things Cecilia Dominic writes. 10/10 recommend!
The Wish-Eater by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What an adventure. This story was packed with life lessons, amazing characters, action and romance. Going on the journey with Elodie and Sebastian was absolutely fascinating and I couldn’t absorb the words fast enough. Elodie is an amazingly strong woman and I loved everything about her. I was sucked into this book from the beginning and it was impossible to put down.
The Mind-Reading Hat: Invisible Magic Wand Book Six by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 stars!
This is the second book I have read by this author, and the second story I have read with Caspian. I really love the art work and the story line. Caspian’s grandfather has all of these magical items that are given to Caspian on his unbirthdays and he gets the joy of learning in this book, what the hat and stone do for him. This is such a great story to get the imagination flowing in kids.
Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an excellent paranormal romance by an author I had never read before. I’ve recently started reading more paranormal romance and I was attracted by the blurb of this book, so decided to give the author a chance. I’m glad that I took the chance as I really liked this book very much.
Set in 1782 in New Orleans, Greer had been happily selling flowers on the streets of Paris when she was kidnapped and put on a boat filled with other women and taken to Paris to stay in a convent until they were married off.
I loved reading Greer and Theron’s story. Women at that time we supposed to be meek and subservient. Greer was very much the opposite – sassy, opinionated and not scared to get into trouble. Theron could not help the attraction he felt towards her, even though she was supposedly just a thing for him to feed on.
I really enjoyed reading about the secondary characters in the book, the girls that Greer befriended on the boat journey over and at the convent. I particularly liked Desiree and hope we get to see more of her in this series. I admit I wasn’t too enamoured with Edith but she may be redeemed in time…or not.
This is a great book and I look forward to reading more of this series in the future.
The Fighter by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This has become one of my favorite authors, though this is the first book in this series I have read. There are parts of the story that are for mature audiences only. Juliet and Gage meet in an unconventional way, an attempted rescue that was not a rescue after all. Neither thought they would ever see each other again.
Their paths crossed again at an underground cage fighting event. Juliet’s roommate, Ten, was fighting to hopefully earn money for their rent. Twists and turns and some very steamy turns later…..I felt like I was in the book right there with the characters. This author does a great job of drawing you in and making you forget that you are in a fantasy world and life is going on around you.
The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Margaret Rose wants to be more than her mother. She wants independence, and she just might be strong enough to get it. This historical retelling will take you back to WWII. Living in poverty and having an domineering father. Makes Margaret Rose try that much harder. What lies ahead for her and where she ends up you will need to read this powerful woman’s story. I don’t usually read historical books, but this one caught my interest. I am so pleased with this story and the author who wrote it. This story is well written and easy to follow. For some, it may bring up memories of those days and the loss that was experienced. Be prepared to ride the emotional rollercoaster. Remember to bring tissues, chocolate, and your drink of choice as you will be here for a while.
Review@cinful
The Curse of a Faeblood by M.K. Lorber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
The Curse of a Faeblood by MK Lorber
The Curse of a Faeblood is a well written Paranormal Fantasy that once you start reading its hard to put down. This is a new author to me but I’m a fan already. Their style of writing and attention to detail is wonderful. Her characters are well developed and fun. It felt like I was apart of the story at times. This is a story that is fast paced and will keep you guessing. Get ready to be taken on quite the with Gavyn and Ember as they seek family members amongst other things. I highly recommend reading this book and im looking forward to reading more from this Author
Snap Me Up by Landra Graf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Full Throttle Sci-Fi!
This was a spectacular book! Strong cast, beautifully written story, and all in a really great backdrop of a future Mars that isn’t shiny and pretty. This is a gritty Mars that is relatable and run by gangs that are race focused and are vaguely reminiscent of pod racing (Star Wars) meets Street Outlaws.
Our Main characters are Snapper, a cyborg with trust issues, who happens to be second in command of Frog Lick and the Full Throttle Gang; and Gina the Android/Synthetic. Gina is trying to learn what it means to be human and as a sentient AI that started as a Ship… It’s interesting. However, she makes a phenomenal mechanic! In order to save Frog Lick, these two have to work together on an experimental engine design in order to win the Regional Race. Of course, it’s not an easy task, as getting the parts requires some “creative acquisition” to retrieve them. Throw in some love triangle drama, sabotage, and some steamy sex scenes; and you have one really space-worthy novel!
I’m now fully invested and can’t wait
This Night Has Ended by Alexander Charalambides
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Engaging, dynamic, intriguing, captivating and enthralling! Book five, the last in this series, really makes the final moments for this story come alive. I was entranced and caught in the throes of the action. I love Rowena’s final push and thoroughly enjoyed the dark romanticism and unique portrayal of vampires. Read these in order to get the most out of them!!! I will be re-reading them one weekend when I have time to binge!!
The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was in love with this book. I was hooked from the beginning. I was taken on an emotional journey while reading this. I related to this book in many different aspects. I felt that the author at times was writing about me to me. I highly recommend this book.
The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
While I did enjoy the overall storyline of The Scent of Gardenias, I honestly struggled with the authors writing style. It wasn’t anything drastically different from other historical fictions I’ve read, but I feel the timing and pace of the story could have been structured better. I found myself confused and had to re-read sections to get a feeling for how much time had elapsed, which took me away from the actual story of Margaret Rose trying to survive her life of poverty, single motherhood and other disadvantages of the 1940s America. This is a poignant story of Margaret coping with harsh realities and fighting for a life that is worth living for her children. We see her go through relationships and learning about herself throughout her journey to discovery where her true happiness lies. I do appreciate a strong female character but wanted more background on some of the supporting characters in this story. I wanted them to come to life more for me. Overall, good story of a strong woman struggling to find her freedom and independence in a male dominated world.
The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This wonderful historical fiction takes you on the journey that is Margaret Roses life…it takes you through the difficult times before, during and after WWII. It truly makes you wonder just how much one person can go through in a lifetime. Margaret dreams and desires more from life than what she is told it should be by her parents and tries to make those dreams a reality. Despite the many hardships Margaret faces over the years, her devotion to her family is something you will never doubt as it is always her focus. This was so well written and had my heart engaged the entire way through. If you enjoy historical fiction I highly recommend you grab a copy today and get reading.
The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was such a beautifully written, heartfelt story which I absolutely loved. The author clearly took a lot of time to write this story as I could feel all of the emotions of the character, I could imagine what she was describing, I really did feel like I was sharing in the grief of Margaret at times. Margaret really was such a strong person, with everything she went through, I really did feel for her – she definitely had strength and determination.
I enjoyed following Margaret’s journey, it was very emotional at times and I would definitely recommend it to other readers.
The Curse of a Faeblood by M.K. Lorber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
The Curse of a Faeblood by MK Lorber
The Curse of a Faeblood is a well written Paranormal Fantasy that once you start reading its hard to put down. This is a new author to me but I’m a fan already. Their style of writing and attention to detail is wonderful. Her characters are well developed and fun. It felt like I was apart of the story at times. This is a story that is fast paced and will keep you guessing. Get ready to be taken on quite the with Gavyn and Ember as they seek family members amongst other things. I highly recommend reading this book and im looking forward to reading more from this Author
The Fighter by India Kells
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Desperate for money, Ten decides to try to win some quick cash in an underground fighting circuit, much to the dismay of his best friend and roommate, Juliet. But, when Ten realizes he’s out of his depth against a ruthless opponent, Jonathan Gage steps in to give him some advice that wins him the fight, but brings on a new set of problems. The win ends up coming too little, too late, anyway, as the roommates arrive home to find they’ve already been evicted from their apartment.
Gage, who now feels responsible for his advice bringing the pair into danger, offers up his home as a place to stay until they can get the whole mess sorted out. Sexual tension mounts among the three, with Ten and Juliet obviously interested in one another, but too timid to ruin their friendship; the pair seem to also have an interest in Gage, which is also reciprocated. Lots of steamy scenes happen between Gage and Juliet, Gage and Ten, and finally Ten and Juliet, culminating with all three having a shared experience.
In the meantime, Gage is coaching Ten for a fight that may be a set-up, and Juliet is struggling with her internal feelings for both men and trying to decide what she actually wants. With all of their safety being in jeopardy, Gage reaches out to his old friends to help keep his new friends safe while he works out a plan to hopefully keep them all out of trouble for good.
This is the first book of the series I’ve read, and it works perfectly fine as a standalone, but you can tell there’s more of a backstory to Gage and his old friends that would be revealed by reading the earlier books. Overall, I found the book to be a great mix of tension, build-up, and sizzle, with a sprinkling of danger and mystery.
The Fighter by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story follows Juliet and Jonathan and is 171 pages in length. Juliet and Ten go way back – from when her parents left her. To make some extra money, Ten enters the cage fighting ring and ends up in a bit of trouble. Jonathan had given Ten some pointers which resulted in some serious issues and now Juliet and Ten have no where to go. Jonathan decides to let them stay with him – and que the chemistry – between all three of them! Who ends up with who?
Reigning Hearts: The Complete Series by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
If you are a fan of small-town romances…then this is the series for you. Each book centers around a different couple but they all have that small-town, not really looking for love but finding it anyway, nothing stays secret in a small-town kind of vibe.
Each story is, however, unique and warms your heart in its own special way. There are rockstars, single dads, matchmakers, pub owners…all sorts of characters to fall in love with.
This author quickly became one of my “go-to” authors after reading my first book in the series…and I always look forward to what is next!
Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ruanon is the heir of Tarlah, this involves lessons in fighting, history of the kingdom and more importantly how to run the Kingdom that will one day be theirs to rule. Because they are non binary, Ruanon works twice as hard to prove themselves to their father who is the current King.
The dangers of ruling over a Kingdom hits Ruanon in the face one night when their parents are kidnapped after a foiled assassination attempt. Now Ruanon is unsure of who to trust as they attempt to rule the kingdom and prevent war from a neighboring Kingdom.
Lihn finds herself in an unknown location while on a school trip to Australia. How did she get there? And more importantly, how does she get back home?
I really enjoyed this novel. It was fast paced and unpredictable. I couldn’t wait for both storylines to come together and how it would.
The main character being non binary is what cause my attention the most. It is not something I’ve seen before in the fantasy genre.
I saw that this is supposed to be a trilogy so I can’t wait for the next book.
Phoenix’s Ascent by Winter Austin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and connecting with the characters. I thought they had such a great chemistry and I bought into their story with easily.
The Book itself I found to be well written and pretty exciting. They was a lot going on that I could get myself lost in. Although it is the second book in the series it was still enjoyable on its own. Overall this is definitely a book worth reading.
Phoenix’s Ascent by Winter Austin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is not my normal type of book, but I really enjoyed it. There are plenty of twists and turns, as well as character development.
Nadia is a trained government assassin of a mostly female squad, Hera Force, with a major Traumatic Brain Injury that causes her to lose track of time and has caused her to forget six whole years of her life, causing her to lose the man she loves and who loves her too. Mitch is a former MI6 agent in British intelligence, who has been in hiding after being framed for treason. When Nadia walks into his bar in Mexico, kills several drug cartel members, at first he can’t understand why she can’t remember him, but he knows he has to help her escape the police and cartel members that are now on her tail. This belief is only bolstered when she wakes up the next morning with no memory of what had happened the previous night, no memory of the six years since she last saw Mitch, and believing it is 6 years before. As Mitch works hard to get Nadia back to her teammates, Nadia struggles to make sense of her life and what is going on around her. Working together with Hera Force, Mitch and Nadia work to figure out who framed Mitch, who sent the cartel after Nadia, who is working to create a biological weapon, and who the Chessmaster, the man who is pulling all the strings, really is and try to bring him down.
Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This isn’t my usual genre but I was up for a bit of change and a challenge and I must say that while I won’t easily be converted this was a good read ❣️📕
There were times I just had to stop , breathe and let myself absorb and process what I’ve read there’s alit of detail and that’s not a bad thing so that’s not critique it’s just me being out of my genre and I think if this is your thing you’ll love every page !
Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Manipulator’s War is incredibly detailed and I took some breaks here and there just to really wrap my head around what was happening. It was a bit difficult to get into the groove at first but once I did, I was completely enthralled!
Ruarnon is our non-binary main character and they must prove that they are up to many challenges, including finding their abducted parents and trying to end a terrifying war in their home of Tarlah. They need to decide who to trust and rely on internal instincts in the face of opposition. The four students from Australia are in for a life-altering experience as they attempt to navigate through this unbelievable world they stumbled upon. Will they ever find their way back to Australia or will Tarlah become their new home?
There are many emotions woven into this book and I enjoyed the multiple vantage points from different characters. I’m excited for the release of the second book in this trilogy, highly recommend for any reader interested in YA, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or LGBTQ+ Fiction!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson is confusing and yet entertaining. It took awhile for me to get into this book. I really had to concentrate to keep up with the story line. It’s the first book that I have ever come across where the main character is non binary, and if you’re not paying attention at first…it is a little bit confusing. You start off in one world and wind up another. This was definitely a one of a kind book.
Reviewed by: Mary Espinoza, May 2022
Bake Off by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
In a delightfully done YA Fantasy sequel this explores what happens when you mix baking with magic.This is the second book in the series and continues with the main character Cat in a bakery competition after traveling to the family bakery in arizona…. but what happens to her baking when you add magic? Youll have to read to find out! The added bonus is recipes that you can try yourself!
This series was great YA angst type children’s chapter book that was wholesome, engaging and quirky and I really enjoyed it. For parents this is definitely a safe book to choose for your kids and tweens/teens for a fanstasy/magic escape
Bake Off by Cori Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was looking forward to Bake Off and I wasn’t disappointed. I enjoyed reading about Cat again – the author has a wonderful writing style and makes her writing so engaging and fun to read. I loved the recipes sprinkled in again – I think I really felt the family vibe and the fun banter between each other in this book.
This was another fun and light hearted read that both young adult readers and older ones will like. There is something for everyone and with the fun way in which it is written you will be flipping the pages to find out what will happen next.
I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author again in the future.
Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first book that I have read by this author and what an introduction it was! Wow I was hooked from the very start. This book definitely satisfied my enjoyment of paranormal, dark and romance genres! I loved the historical parts to the story too. There really was so much going on in this book that I was completely captivated by what I was reading. I loved the characters Greer and Theron. Greer was a strong heroine and great to read about, she was definitely strong and fierce and I absolutely loved her. Theron is kind of like the bad boy you shouldn’t but can’t help but love. I am really excited to read book 2 in this series!
She has a secret. He has a darker secret. One of their secrets can get them both killed.
Avery is brutally attacked. There is no motive, no suspect. She doesn’t know who to trust. The neighbor? Her friends? What about her lover or the police? Making the wrong choice will lead to her murder.
Days later, a neighbor is found dead. His mutilated body is the second in a matter of weeks. A serial killer has hit the streets of Scottsdale, and Avery suspects her assault is somehow tied to the killings.
As she slowly unravels the truth, Avery realizes her attack is anything but normal or random. She is only one player amongst many. But does she risk confiding in anyone? What about her next-door neighbor, Luys? His act of kindness has brought them together. But is it truly kindness or something more sinister? Could he be hiding his own agenda?
Luys wants his past kept in the past. But a killer, far deadlier than any human, isn’t willing to let things go. Then when Avery is assaulted, he knows he must do something to protect her, but at what cost? There’s no going back if he dares to trust Avery with his dark history. He’ll not only expose himself but the ones he loves. And what of any relationship between them? Is it doomed from the start, leading to pain, even death?
If they join forces to find a killer, will it be enough to survive? Because before they’re done, more than one person will die. And they’ll quickly learn someone is pretending to be who they’re not and that the killer is filled with a seething need for vengeance.
Click here to view the Book Trailer for A Long Kiss Goodbye (Onyx & Mercury Book 2) by H.D. Thomson
Multi-award-winning author, H. D. Thomson, writes romantic suspense, paranormal and contemporary romance. She loves writing about tortured heroes and ordinary people placed in extraordinary circumstances. If you love fast-paced sexy thrillers with a great plot twist, strong women, and exceptional men, then try Anxiety, the first book in her Smoke & Mirrors paranormal and romantic suspense series.
H. D. loves everything by Dean Koontz, Mary Higgins Clark, Harlan Coben, Christina Dodd, and Linda Howard. Their fast-paced, twisting plots have all influenced her writing style. That and her love of romance.
From Ontario, Canada, H.D. moved as a teenager to the heat of Arizona where she graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Business Administration with a major in accounting. After working in the corporate world as an accountant, H.D. changed her focus to one of her passions—books. She owned and operated an online bookstore for several years and then started the company, Bella Media Management. The company specializes in websites, video trailers, ebook conversion, and promotional resources for authors and small businesses. When she’s not enjoying small-town life in Spirit Lake, Iowa, or heading her company, she is following her first love—writing.
▽ )˖°°˖✧ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ( ▽ )˖°°˖✧
Angelina Squires loves her well-ordered life, but her nightly erotic dreams involving two unknown guys make her restless. One fateful night, her world is turned upside down when she is tracked and almost killed by a demon and saved by two men who bear a striking resemblance to the hotties in her dreams.
Salvatore and Luca De Laurentis are angel/vampire hybrid twin brothers, tasked with protecting their territory from demons. They have been searching for their mate for centuries, but they never expected to catch her scent and save her life on the same day.
Angelina’s bond with the brothers grows steadily stronger, but they face danger at every turn. The demon threatens to destroy them and the human territory they’ve protected for centuries, risking their exposure and many lives. When it’s time to face the enemy, will Angelina be strong enough to help take him down, or will she and her new-found mates be condemned to death.
Click here to view the Book Trailer for Captivated (Hybrid Lovers Series Book 1) by Toya Richardson
Here’s a bit about Toya and her crazy life. She writes paranormal romances, romantic comedy/enemies to lovers, and contemporary romances. She’s married with one son and a cat called Masai. She lives near Ipswich in Suffolk, originally from Essex.
Writing has been her passion from a very early age when her mum encouraged her to use her imagination. Sadly, it wasn’t until the death of her mum, who was also her best friend, in 2009 that she started to take it seriously. Her mother’s wish was to see her published, which didn’t occur until 2014. And now, each book she publishes is dedicated to her.
When not writing, or reading, her main hobbies are; cinema, theatre, live bands, gardening, walking, travelling, Formula One racing, darts and spending time with friends. She also has a huge collection of skull-related items, but not real ones! She also loves goats!
Her mantras are, “One life, life it.” And “Life’s for living.”
BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE 
Jay Veloso Batista is a published author of Historical Fantasy and Supernatural Suspense, technical non-fiction, poetry and role-playing games. The Forerunner Series includes ‘Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse,’ ‘The Vardoger Boy,’ ‘On Viking Seas,’ ‘Kara, Shieldmaiden of Eire (2022),’ ‘Mauraders in Jotunheim (2023),’ and ‘Voyage to Cordova (2024).’ Jay loves history, cycling and hiking, and good craft beer! A frequent traveler for business and pleasure, Jay has visited all 50 states and all of the continents except Antarctica, and the places he has frequented support his story craft. A father and grandfather, Jay lives on the eastern Delaware shore with his wife where they can kayak, swim in the ocean and eat lots of blue fin crabs! You can learn more about Jay at www.jayvelosobatista.com or on his Facebook Author page.
Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a cute story! The story was very interesting and would keep any child invested. As a dog lover myself, I found that even as an adult I enjoyed reading along. I think there could also be several teaching points or lessons learned throughout this story. It will provide children with not only an entertaining read, but a learning experience! Definitely recommend!
Reviewed by @asanabr1