Posts

Give Us Bad Boys & Billionaires by L.M. Mountford – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Give Us Bad Boys and BillionairesGive Us Bad Boys and Billionaires by L.M. Mountford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you’re looking for quick stories with various types of lust and romance, here it is! Based on the title alone, it should be no surprise that every story is steamy. There is a story type for everyone, I’m sure.
These are novella length stories rather than full books. Don’t expect much character development as the focus is steam, steam, and more steam! Overall, the stories are fun short reads.

View all my reviews

Fearless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls, Book 5) by KG Fletcher – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Fearless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls, #5)Fearless Love by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One visit to Langston Falls, no matter the purpose, is all it usually takes to show the magic!
James is such a likeable character and Sara is so sweet and easy to love as well. Both are hardworking and incredibly independent. And Sara’s son is the sweetest little boy. Watching James and Sara grow to let go of past issues and insecurities to try to make a go of a relationship was endearing.
I have been waiting for James’s story and this did not disappoint. Fearless Love is the perfect ending to the Bennett’s series with an extra happily ever after!

View all my reviews

Out of Bounds (Game Time Series) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Out of BoundsOut of Bounds by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Piper and Wyatt had a chance encounter and the connection was instant! Piper is traumatized from her past and doesn’t know if she can get past it. Wyatt wants more from the beginning, but he has to convince Piper too. Their electricity is fire from the beginning. If they can get over their past traumas and help each other they can make the hottest relationship work. The story is well-written allowing you to feel every emotion with Piper and Wyatt.

View all my reviews

Hidden Mischief (Shattered Embrace Series) by Alyndra Quinn – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Hidden Mischief (Shattered Embrace #1)Hidden Mischief by Alyndra Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ashton has kept a lot of herself hidden from those who think they know her best. She’s wildly successful and had great friends, but something is missing from her life.
Zachary is extremely successful in several businesses. He controls most things in his life, which is exactly the way he prefers things.
Ashton and Zachary should not work, they’re too different. However, they can’t leave each other alone from the minute they’re together. The devotion seems a bit rushed for the short timeline. Quinn carefully develops the characters to show the readers their personalities and motives. Overall, a good read!

View all my reviews

Beach Ball Blunder (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Beach Ball Blunder (The Adventures of Cray on the Bay)Beach Ball Blunder by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Seal Gray and his friends show how important it is to tell the truth and to ask for forgiveness when you’ve wronged others. The illustrations and rhyming are the perfect combination to propel the lessons in the story even further.
My kids have enjoyed the entire series with Cray and friends!

View all my reviews

Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hay Goes Home is a fun and easy way to show kids that it is okay to ask for help. We all need friends, just like Hay does, to help us out when we’re scared or trying new things.
The rhyming really helped draw my kids’ attention. They liked seeing the different animals too.

View all my reviews

The Rocklyns Collection: Books 1-7 (The Rocklyns Series) by Alicia Street – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

The Rocklyns Collection: Contemporary Romance Boxed Set (Books 1-7)The Rocklyns Collection: Contemporary Romance Boxed Set by Alicia Street
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I live for reading an entire collection at once rather than waiting for each new release. Each book brought the story of another Rocklyn family member and their love interest. Despite practically being royalty due to their vineyard the Rocklyn family has their share of issues, especially when it comes to love.
Alicia Street’s writing is engaging and easy to read. Each character pulls you in and has you rooting for their happily ever after. Throughout the series Tucker was always a hoot. I was glad to see him get his own story to round out the series.

View all my reviews

Deja Brew All Over Again: A Runaway Bride Romance (Love on Tap Series) by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Deja Brew All Over Again: A Runaway Bride RomanceDeja Brew All Over Again: A Runaway Bride Romance by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Miller has a bad reputation and trouble may as well be his middle name. Maisy has to run from a life she can’t live and finds the trouble she didn’t know she needed. In an attempt to protect his family, Miller lets everyone think he’s a troublemaker with a grim future. Maisy is the only person to see through the act and get the truth out of him.
Miller and Maisy are both such easy characters to love. It’s easier to navigate life with a friend they each discover. Bear is an absolute hoot!

View all my reviews

Group Hug by Ariella Talix – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Group HugGroup Hug by Ariella Talix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ariella Talix is a new-to-me author and I had no idea what to expect with her writing. I enjoyed the easy banter, characters, and plot of this story. It’s definitely a spicy one, so be prepared!
When the three main characters, Weston. Callum, and Petra, all find themselves living together after some undesirable circumstances they find that being roommates is a tall order to fill.
Getting the perspective from each character is perfect for this book as there are so many things to consider from each perspective. Group Hug is a story of friendship, love, and overcoming obstacles.

View all my reviews

A New Day for Cray (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

A New Day For Cray (The Adventures of Cray on the Bay)A New Day For Cray by G. Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cray learns that his actions have consequences. A New Day for Cray is a good book to teach young children that their actions towards others have consequences. Cray likes to be mean and can’t understand why his friends don’t like it. Only when there are consequences to his actions does Cray understand the impact of his actions on his friends.

View all my reviews

Lost Property (The Tom Grant Series Book 6) by Samantha Adair – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Lost Property: A Tom Grant Novel (The Tom Grant Series Book 6)Lost Property: A Tom Grant Novel by Samantha Adair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tom is pulled back to work, despite his best efforts to live a quiet life. Once he commits to a job, he’s all in and that hasn’t changed.
Lost Property was highly engaging and full of twists and turns. It does help significantly to read the previous books in the series, but even as a standalone you can catch up pretty quickly. The book is fast paced and keeps you reading to the very end. The banter between Tom and James is a good source of light entertainment is an otherwise heavy book.

View all my reviews

Tropic Heat (Flamingo Island Series) by C.A. King – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Tropic HeatTropic Heat by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When left at the altar with a nonrefundable honeymoon package Daniel takes his best friend’s advice and they take the vacation. Even the honeymoon trip fails to go planned for Daniel and Joey.
Tropic Heat is a quick read with classic rom-com vibes. It’s easy to read and is entertaining. Joey is worth quite a few laughs as he keeps things interesting.

View all my reviews

Unclutter (Inner Voice Book 1) by Winnie D Pagora – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Unclutter: A Survivor's Story (Inner Voice, #1)Unclutter: A Survivor’s Story by Winnie D. Pagora
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tina is a survivor through and through. She has faced more than anyone should ever have to, yet she is determined to not let her abusers win anymore. As Tina fights to reclaim herself she finds real friends, something she wasn’t sure she would ever have again.
Uncluttered is raw and emotional.
I needed a bit more at the end of the book to tie up loose ends, but it was still a good read.

View all my reviews

A Christmas Amish Courtship (Amish Courtship Series) by Jennifer Spredemann – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

A Christmas Amish Courtship (Amish Courtship #3)A Christmas Amish Courtship by Jennifer Spredemann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anne and Andy have both had their hearts broken and still yearn for the right person to give their love. In this sweet story we watch their interest for each other bloom, but there are barriers to a possible relationship between them. Family is important to each, so they have to be careful to not hurt anyone else in the process.
This is book 3 in the series, but is easily read as a standalone. It is a shorter book that is just enough for a sweet feel-good romance.

View all my reviews

Woman Unbroken by Alexandra Fleder – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Woman UnbrokenWoman Unbroken by Alexandra Fleder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Devorah has had more than enough trauma to last a lifetime. After leaving her abusive husband she is on a mission, albeit not too quickly, to regain control of herself and her life.
Woman Unbroken was an emotional read. The main character, Devorah, was easy to like and relate to. I love that in seeking a new life Devorah didn’t take the easy route. The author did a great job truly making this a story of rediscover and working through the tough stuff.

View all my reviews

Wicked Ends: A Dark College Bully Romance (Hidden Valley Elite Series, Book 8 ) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Wicked Ends (Hidden Valley Elite #8)Wicked Ends by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shane and Winter have a lengthy history, and as they start to put the pieces together everything falls apart. Shane is willing to leave their storied history in the past, but it will take time to convince his family. Winter’s past will come back to haunt her yet again, which will subsequently haunt Shane and bring skeletons from his family closet. Winter and Shane will need each other, but they’ll have to learn to trust each other first. I have been hooked on the characters, suspense, and storylines from the very beginning of that series. No part of me wanted this series to end, but it was the perfect twisted and happily ever after ending I craved!

View all my reviews

Shadowed Agenda: An Enemies to Lovers Action-Packed Romantic Suspense Thriller (Shadow Defense Security Series) by Mavery Ellscott – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadowed Agenda: An Enemies to Lovers Action-Packed Romantic Suspense Thriller (Shadow Defense Security Series Book 2)Shadowed Agenda: An Enemies to Lovers Action-Packed Romantic Suspense Thriller by Mavery Ellscott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Regan and Pavlo are both authors, yet neither wants to associate with the other on their book tour. When things start to go awry with the tour requests, Pavlo and Regan have no choice but to put their trust in each other if they have any chance of ending the chaos with minimal damage. I was immediately drawn to Pavlo because of his strong commitment to doing the right thing and Regan because of her ‘do it myself’ mentality. The characters are so likeable! Mavery Ellscott does a great job keeping the reader in suspense and constantly upping the stakes in an already high-stakes situation.

View all my reviews

Raining Fish and Frogs by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Raining Fish and FrogsRaining Fish and Frogs by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Forget raining cats and dogs, Lois Wickstrom took an odd natural phenomenon, a waterspout, and made it into a fun story about raining fish and frogs! The illustrations are just as much fun as the text. My children laughed throughout the story and asked many questions afterwards. Be sure to read Raining Fish and Frogs when you have time to look for actual pictures of waterspouts, entertain questions about natural phenomena, and preform science experiments!

View all my reviews

Quick Affirmations for Children (Quick Affirmations Series) by Kim Ann & Yobe Qiu – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Quick Affirmations for Children: A to Z of Easy Motivations for Creating Better days - Positive Affirmations for Happy ChildrenQuick Affirmations for Children: A to Z of Easy Motivations for Creating Better days – Positive Affirmations for Happy Children by Kim Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Quick Affirmations for Children is great for a quick boost to start the day or as needed. The affirmations are short and sweet and written so 3-6 years old’s can understand what they mean. My children like the illustrations too as most helped show what the affirmation meant.
These A to Z affirmations would be perfect for little posters or trading cards too!

View all my reviews

Themes of Kismet by A. Akinosho – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Themes OF Kismet: A Multicultural Meet Cute RomanceThemes OF Kismet: A Multicultural Meet Cute Romance by A Akinosho
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Themes of Kismet has so much potential! It has an interesting plot with great characters that you really grow to love (and hate) because they’re well-developed.
Noah and Ebun feel destined to be together after many chance encounters, or maybe it is kismet. Time after time, something gets in the way of them being able to live they lives they so desire. Communication has the ability to make or break their relationship.
Kismet and meet cute really are fun underlying themes. As far as the story goes, it is an easy read. At times, the actions and lack of communication are quite juvenile, but so are the characters.

View all my reviews

The Man in Black by L.R. Liverpool – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

The Man In BlackThe Man In Black by L.R. Liverpool
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Man in Black by L.R. Liverpool tells the story of Fenimore James. Young and naïve, Fenimore leaves home to pursue his life goal of becoming a real outlaw. First, he must choose a new identity, and he successfully becomes Simon Shaw. Being an outlaw takes a dangerous turn when Shaw joins the Red Evans gang because they start getting murdered one at a time. Despite the circumstances, Shaw falls dangerously in love. Nothing about being an outlaw or love is as easy it it seems. Part one is extremely detailed and slower going to setup everything else that happens in the book. Part two really picks up the pace and suspense.

Liverpool’s character development is leaves out no detail and the world building leaves no stone unturned.

View all my reviews

Wicked Games (Hidden Valley Elite Book 7) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Wicked Games (Hidden Valley Elite #7)Wicked Games by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Winter and Shane… they’re wicked!
Shane remembers how terrible Winter was to him in the past, yet he’s drawn to her now and he can’t explain why. Add this to the issues Shane can’t seem to shake with his granddad and father and it’s enough to send his mind reeling. Throw in a jealous fling too. Nothing about Shane’s life is normal right now.
Winter has lived a life filled with trauma and it doesn’t seem to be getting better anytime soon. Eventually she may need to face her past, including those she wronged.
Like the rest of the series, this book ends in a serious cliffhanger! And I’m anxiously anticipating the end of the series despite not being ready to let go of the characters anytime soon. You could start with Wicked Games, but you really should start at the very begging of the series.

View all my reviews

Beyond Friendship (The Irresistible Series Book 3) by Marlyn Love – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Beyond Friendship (The Irresistible Series #3)Beyond Friendship by Marlyn Love
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brian owns Six-Pack, the hottest nightclub, and is the perfect bachelor. He is Mr. One Night and won’t even entertain anything more with someone. Brian is about to act on his impulses when he sees Amanda for the first time. Until he finds out she’s his best friend’s younger sister that is. Amanda is a successful entrepreneur and knows Brian is off-limits, even if she feels their chemistry and longs for more than friendship.
Can Brian set his fears aside before he destroys every chance for happiness?
Beyond Friendship is emotional and pull on your heartstrings for so many reasons. Marlyn Love does a great job making the reader feel so many emptions and getting drawn in to the relationship between Brian and Amanda.

View all my reviews

When We Fell Again by Julie Archer – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

When We Fell AgainWhen We Fell Again by Julie Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some relationships are doomed to fail until those involved grown up. Alexis and Jordan have a deep past, but haven’t seen each other in years until Lex is tasked with managing the tour for Jordan’s band. Old feelings and chemistry are palpable during the tour, but neither is sure if it’s the right answer. In the end, they have to decide if ghosts of the past or a chance to start fresh will win.

Jordan went through a lot of trauma and change throughout the book. He matured not only in his relationships, but also as a person. Alexis is driven, but rarely puts herself first. There were some heavy topics, but it was well written into the storyline. I was hooked on this book early and it never let up.

View all my reviews

Chasing Cheer (Emerald Hollow Book 1) by Heather Schneider – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Chasing CheerChasing Cheer by Heather Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Chasing Cheer is a sweet and wholesome Christmas read. It isn’t the typical small town strangers meeting and falling in love type, but it still has all the best elements.
The cheer in Emerald Hollow is something Holly can’t seems to put her finger on, so she works to investigate what makes it so cheerful. As she falls in love with the town and the people, Holly keeps finding reasons to visit again. Ash is selfless, constantly chasing dreams to better Emerald Hollow. He stays busy, but always makes time for everyone else, especially Holly, only he knows so little about her. Only when things take a turn for the worst do Holly and Ash have to be honest about their feelings for each other.
The writing is very descriptive, which seemed to slow the story down in some places, but it always picked up again. The twist on the classic Christmas love stories was fun and even unpredictable at times.

View all my reviews

Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite Book 6) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite #6)Cruel Love by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isla Vaughn did it AGAIN in Cruel Love! This book is part of a series, and while you don’t need to read all of them to get it, you do need to read Cruel Hate and Cruel Start.
Phoenix is volatile, moody, and has a chip on his shoulder, but all that is striped from him in the accident. His family has dark secrets, many unknown to Phoenix, and will stop at nothing to ensure they stay hidden. Only after the accident does Phoenix start to put the pieces together.
Aspen is pregnant with Phoenix’s baby and is just hoping to be able to parent this baby with him. They’ve tried a fake relationship and it failed miserably, so there’s really no hope of a real relationship.
In Cruel Love, Phoenix and Aspen learn to let down their barriers despite all their past hurt, disappointment, and heartache. They overcome so much to deserve their happily ever after.
But… family drama is just heating up, so I’m anxiously awaiting Wicked Games and Wicked Ends!

View all my reviews

Ignite My Heart (North Fork Series Book 2) by Alicia Street – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Ignite My Heart (North Fork Series Book 2)Ignite My Heart by Alicia Street
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ignite My Heart was an easy and engaging read. Blake is smart as a whip, but can’t land a permanent teaching job. Morgan is a single father looking to find help with his daughter after relocating. Blake’s brother has the perfect plan to get Morgan to hire Blake as a nanny. It’s a tempting job, but Blake has a lot of baggage that may prevent her from fulfilling all the duties of nannying. Especially when Morgan is nothing short of stunning.
The story was easy to follow. The ending was a bit rushed, but still exactly what I needed from this book.

View all my reviews

As Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

As Though You Were MineAs Though You Were Mine by J. Marie Rundquist
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As Though You Were Mine touches every emotion on the spectrum. Love, loss, joy, heartache, turmoil, and so much more.
Julie is figuring out how to grieve the loss of her brother while also learning how to parent his now orphaned children. Except, they’re her biological children, so this should be an easy transition due to biology and all. Never mind that the family dynamics Julie is accustomed to aren’t anything even resembling normal.
As though there wasn’t enough to deal with; enter Grant! He’s the kids’ uncle, and their biological father, or maybe he’s a Sperm Whale! Julie and Grant have to find a way to best care for the children who have lost everything while trying to figure out their own turmoiled lives.
As Though You Were Mine is deep, complex, and emotional. It is also a fantastic read that will have you up all hours of night reading. Go ahead and pick it up now!

View all my reviews

Cruel Hate (Hidden Valley Elite Book 5) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Cruel Hate (Hidden Valley Elite #5)Cruel Hate by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isla Vaugh did it again! If you’ve read the previous books in this series you knew Cruel Hate would get your blood pumping and she did not disappoint!
Phoenix and Aspen are connected forever after a one night stand left Aspen pregnant. Now in college, they decide to start a fake relationship that should be mutually beneficial. Phoenix is still a hot head with NFL dreams. Aspen is an artist with dreams of opening her own business. A baby may complicate things, but both are determined to be their best for the baby.
Cruel Hate also brings in some family drama that was previously only alluded to. The cliff hanger means I need to read the next installment now! Can’t wait to see how their HEA happens!

View all my reviews

Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend (Oscar and Emmy Series) by Terri Sabol – Review by Megan Pesek

/0 Comments/in /by

Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend: A story about pet loss and saying goodbye to a furry friend. Ages 5-11 and kindergarten through grade 5.Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend: A story about pet loss and saying goodbye to a furry friend. Ages 5-11 and kindergarten through grade 5. by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Like the rest of the books featuring this duo, Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend is a great teaching tool. While the book does have a well developed story, it is not a light read. Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend provides a story about a loveable cat in child-friendly language to help children learn about end of life practices for pets. This book would be a great way to introduce children to the topic of pet/animal loss if you know you’ll be faced with it soon.

View all my reviews