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The Christmas Carousel (The Brass Ring Series Book 2) by K. L. Small – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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The Christmas Carousel (The Brass Ring Series, Book 2)The Christmas Carousel by K.L. Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Christmas Carousel is book Two in The Brass Ring Series. It is a kids book that delivers a powerful message about the true meaning of Christmas. Rusty is back with the magic ring his grandpa gave him but the magic carousel in the park is shut down for winter. He finds a small Christmas themed carousel in the mall and decides to ride each of the different animals. To be able to afford each ride Rusty shovels snow in his neighbor’s driveways. He wants to go on adventures on the Christmas carousel while also saving money to buy his family gifts. During each of his rides he learns about the true meaning of Christmas and receives the powerful message that Christmas is about love. The character of Rusty is well written, and I love the special bond that he has with his grandfather. The author does a great job of creating vivid, magical scenes that fully immerse you into the story alongside the characters. I am a huge fan of this wonderful series and believe it delivers an important message for readers of all ages. I highly recommend this book!

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Lies That Bind (Logan McKenna Series Book 6) by Valerie Davisson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Lies That Bind: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 6 (Logan McKenna Series)Lies That Bind: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 6 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lies That Bind is Book Six in the Logan McKenna Mystery series. It is a crime thriller full of drama, intrigue, action, mystery, and suspense. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I do recommend reading previous books in this series to get Logan’s backstory. Logan’s latest adventure finds her meeting long lost family members, buying a fixer-upper with her boyfriend, and trying to solve a mysterious death. Through a series of confessions and old journals Logan discovers some long-buried secrets that put her life in danger. I loved the characters that were introduced in this book and found each one of them relatable. Of course, Logan remains my favorite because of her strength, determination, and courage in the face of danger. I loved how the author took us back in time throughout the book to a different era. I cannot wait to see what Logan’s next adventure will be!


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Safe Harbor (Logan McKenna Series Book 5) by Valerie Davisson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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SAFE HARBOR: Logan Book 5(The Logan McKenna Series)SAFE HARBOR: Logan Book 5 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Safe Harbor is Book five in the Logan Mckenna Mystery Series. It is a crime thriller packed with action, mystery, intrigue, loss, angst, and drama. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I do recommend reading previous books in the series to get Logan’s backstory. This time around Logan’s life is going well and she feels content. She goes on vacation with her family to the coast of Oregon and they are having a peaceful, much deserved vacation when a murder takes place in the small community. Suddenly Logan is confronted with her past after becoming the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Not only must Logan try to prove her innocence, but she is faced with having to make a difficult decision. This was yet another fantastic book in this series with great characters and an intriguing storyline. The descriptions of the Oregon coast were vivid and made me feel as though I was there with Logan and her family. Looking forward to the next book!

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Vanishing Day (Logan McKenna Series Book 4) by Valerie Davisson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Vanishing Day: A Logan McKenna Mystery/Thriller Logan Book 4 (Logan McKenna Series)Vanishing Day: A Logan McKenna Mystery/Thriller Logan Book 4 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Vanishing Day is Book Four in the Logan McKenna Mystery Series. It is a crime thriller with mystery, action, drama, suspense, and intrigue. Although this book could be read as a standalone, I do recommend that previous books in the series be read first in order to know more about Logan and her backstory. This book will leave you on the edge of your seat as Logan is once again facing danger as she tries to help her new neighbor after she was viciously attacked and left for dead. The three-year-old daughter of the young woman was the sole witness to the attack, but it leaves little for the local police to go on. Logan steps in to help the woman and her young daughter but quickly realizes the woman is not who she says she is, and this puts her life in danger, along with that of the woman and her daughter. I love this series and the character of Logan. She is smart, feisty, strong, courageous and determined. This book takes some twists and turns that will have you reading until the end. Looking forward to the next book in this amazing series!

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The Serpent Awakens by Luna Saint Claire – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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The Serpent AwakensThe Serpent Awakens by Luna Saint Claire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nico is a celebrated yoga master living in Los Angeles who has always relied on his charm and good looks to get him what he wants. When he is viciously attacked and nearly killed Nico starts to question his life and the choices he has made. He decides to return to his hometown of Buenos Aries in the hopes that he can figure out what his purpose in life is. Once there, he is excited to be reunited with old friends, family and an old lover but quickly realizes it is not what he was looking for. His grandmother persuades Nico to trek through Peru on a quest to find his spiritual teacher. This sends Nico on a journey of self-discovery as he navigates his way through past trauma and tries to find his place in the world.

As someone who has tried to navigate through their own personal trauma, I found Nico’s journey to be inspirational and motivating. Nico came across initially as someone who seems like he only cares about himself and his own needs. Once you get to know him better you start to see that there is more to him than he lets on and that his past traumas have impacted his life in a negative manner. It was interesting to read about his journey of self-discovery as he navigated his way through the trauma to move forward. A truly uplifting and inspiring read.

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