Better Gnomes & Gardens by Casey Cardel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Casey Cardell is a new author for me and what a great read! The adventures of Bob were a great cozy read for a rainy day! Perfect mash of mystery and witty with the right amount of fantasy. I read it in one sitting and can’t wait to see what Bob gets himself into next!
Devlin by Angela K. Parker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
New to me author. I really enjoyed this story about Devlin and Eve. There are some laugh out loud moments and there are some moments that make you say to yourself “what in the world?”. This book has a couple twists in it, and you will be surprised to see what they are. Sorry NO SPOILERS from me. This book is a quick easy read, and it will have you turning pages from start to finish. It draws you in to where you feel like you are right there at the dinner table with them all. Enjoy this book…. I know I did.
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I LOVE THIS SERIES! Master Catteneo is wonderful! Yes they are vampires, witchers, shifters, ect. battling for their rights. A war is brewing between the vampires and witches(which could cause the underground world to collapse.)
The author has woven together a story that started off in complete disarray. That could succeed a a stand-alone and perfect read straight full
There’s so much I could write about this but I don’t want to spoil this for others. Just a slight background.
Descallia’s mate has been taken. He’s on a rampage with Catteneo in charge. She was last detected in his territory. Master Catteneo knows where he has to go, what he doesn’t know is how it’ll change the rest of his immortal life.
Alessia does everything to protect her gramma, but can’t stop the bill of a vampire from letting her rest. It is decided that Alessia will assist in the SeaTac and recovery efforts for Lucianna.
These two go on an unexpected adventure of being able to channel on another. Lack of trust. Extreme feelings the whole 9-yards.
Do they recover Lucianna?
Side note: I love Descallia, but I don’t like rampaging Descallia so he was on the back burner for me for this one.
You will have to read and find out. Me, I’m ready for the next book. I can’t wait!
Better Gnomes & Gardens by Casey Cardel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
Better Gnomes & Gardens (Mysty Haven Mystery #1) by Casey Cardel
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. Better Gnomes and Gardens is the first book in the Mysty Haven Mystery Series. The way the book is written will draw you in immediately. Bob and the rest of the characters will leave you wanting more.
Bob is new to town. He is adoptive and couldn’t find anything on his birth parents. When one of the diner patrons needs his help he takes the job. He then finds that the entire town is made up of mystical creatures. Will he ever find out what or who he really is? The quote I chose for Bob is: “I’m glad I could help everyone. It seemed the right thing to do. I thing Doug and the fae might be able to work together. I hope they will, anyway. But I thought that Faeland existed in another dimension. The time thing confuses me. How did they come back so soon?”
Highly recommended for Paranormal Cozy Mystery lovers.
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
This was a quick little read. I enjoyed this book, and I like the series as well. I love the paranormal aspects of the book. The suspense was great, and so was the romance. Would definitely recommend this book and series.
Better Gnomes & Gardens by Casey Cardel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was a great cozy mystery! I enjoyed how they had called the paranormal creatures Mysticals. I, also, liked how the whole town looked like your normal everyday small town. This story had great start and a crazy cliff hanger of an ending. This book is a great cozy mystery with paranormal creatures with a wonderful, unexpected ending to a case.
Reviewed by @purplesky25276
The Intruders by Brett McKay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely love the way Brett McKay writes. He includes author’s notes at the end of each chapter which I’ve never seen any author do. I enjoyed reading them along with the rest of the book, and the flow of the story was amazing.
Dex is tired of his job as a car-salesman, and that was even before he saw a creepy man there. The sight of this stranger set off every instinctual alarm Dex had, but since he seemed to vanish, he tried to forget about it. He receives a mysterious package, but he shrugs it off until he and his family were kidnapped. Will Dex be able to save his family, or will they all perish together?
This book was a non-stop thrill ride trying to figure out what was happening. It is extremely fast-paced and I hope to hear more from this author. I highly recommend this book especially if you like supernatural thrillers!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Divided Lives by K.R. Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this historic mystery read! These books aren’t my typical books I would pick up, but I’m glad I did! It held my attention till the very last page. And there’s romance? I’m a sucker for a good love story! Lotties sexual preference isn’t what was really heard of back in the day. So when someone finds out she’s bisexual, they want to use it to their own advantage! It’s a spin off from the notebook mystery series so I LOVED reading about Emma and Jeremy again. I’ve read one book from that series and I really enjoyed that one too! Highly recommend this!
Better Gnomes & Gardens by Casey Cardel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I loved this fun cozy mystery……and this story took me on quite an adventure to Mysty Haven where you meet Bob McLarney. While new to Mysty Haven, Bob is a new reporter for the local paper until he gets terminated from his job. Just when things for Bob are not going so well, he is approached by a man to try and investigate about missing gnomes from Doug’s beautiful flower garden. Will Bob find the missing gnomes or will something more sinister foil his plans?
This book was so much fun to read…I had definitely laugh out loud moments and just over total enjoyment over this story. I loved the mix of magic, mystery, legends, folklore, mysticals and gnomes!! I am already looking forward to book 2!!!
Better Gnomes & Gardens by Casey Cardel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was such a fun cozy mystery! Bob has recently moved to Mysty Haven and is a journalist. His story about Bigfoot gets him fired. So, when a local man asks for his help in finding his missing gnome, Charlie, Bob agrees to look into it. Bob learns a lot about not only his fellow townspeople but about himself as well.
Better Gnomes & Gardens by Casey Cardel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Better Gnomes & Gardens (Mysty Haven Mystery Book 1) by Casey Cardel. This is such a cute read. Its the story of Bob McLarney who has a brand new degree in journalism and has moved to a cute little town. He just knows he’s going to get his big break in this new town. Bob is a little on the quirky side and really believes in Big Foot and wants to find him thinking this will be his big break. Not really getting anywhere with this story and losing his job over it a local guy asks him to help him find his missing gnome so Bob agrees. What he finds is not what he expected. This town is full of interesting, different and weird characters and Bob doesn’t know what to think about them. Will Bob find this gnome and if he does will he find out what this town is all about? I can’t wait to read more of this cute series. Such a fun quick read.
Borrowed Time by Lane Cohen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have always enjoyed the concept of the butterfly effect which I feel really is tied in with most time travel thoughts and ideas and it just overall really peaks my interest. This author does a bang up job of hooking the reader from the very start with the descriptive ways of his writing style, and then loops them into the thoughts, concerns and emotions of those of whom he is writing about. It was definitely a more involved read than a lot of the novels I’ve been picking up lately, and it made me realize how much I enjoy having to visualize and conceptualize as well as enjoy the entertainment authors bring forward in their written works of art.
What would you do if you could change a decision you made? Would you do it all over again, or would you see where fate takes you with some intervention? Get ready to buckle your seat belt because this was an addictive ride. Looking forward to seeing what he brings forward next. Highly recommend!
Better Gnomes & Gardens by Casey Cardel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sometimes you don’t realize that you’re craving a cute book and this is exactly what I needed! What a fun character Bob McLarney is. When Bob took the job as a journalist, he never expected he’d be fired within a couple weeks due to writing a story about big foot. What can Bob do to survive? What can Mysty Haven show him?
I definitely enjoyed reading this book. Books like this make me smile and sometimes even laugh out loud. I hope you like it as much as I did. I will be checking out the future books in the series.
Musical Murder Mystery Boxed Set #1 by K.L. Montgomery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Musical Murder Mystery Box Set #1 is a collection of fun cosy mysteries set around a travelling theatre troupe. I really enjoyed the first book, The Sound of Murder, so it was great to be able to read the next two as part of a box set!
This is a great series for theatre fans, particularly anyone who’s been involved in performances or dreams of going on the stage. You will most likely end up with songs from the shows stuck in your head for days after you’ve finished. Protagonist Ruby, a chorus girl with a knack for solving mysteries, likes to rewrite the lyrics of a song from the show she’s working on to help her get her head around the details of a case.
The titles of the books make it clear which musical each one is about – The Sound of Murder (The Sound of Music), West Side Murder (West Side Story) and Little Shop of Murder (Little Shope of Horrors). I like how the stories tie in with the musicals the troupe is performing – my favourite is West Side Murder where there’s a longstanding feud between different sections of a retirement community.
This box set gets five stars from me! It would be a great collection to bring on holiday, or read backstage while you’re waiting for your next scene…
The Intruders by Brett McKay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This fast paced sci-fi mystery was intense, and had me on the edge of my seat for most of the book. While the character development was minimal I still felt like I got to know our characters well. The plot was original, well thought out, will keep you guessing through most of the novel. Personally I have never read anything by this author and normally I stay clear or the sci-fi but this one really opened up my mind. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.
Better Gnomes & Gardens by Casey Cardel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
When Bob gets his first big break at the newspaper that he has just been hired at it seems that he misses the mark and must find a new job. As he is trying to figure out what he is going to do now he is approached by an elderly gentleman with a job for him, but this is no ordinary gentle man or job. Bob has found his way to a special town, a town where everyone is not what they seem.
This is a fast-paced story that keeps your attention. The author has created an interesting world full of mystical beings. It is a fun read that brings together so many different beings. Bob is a good character and watching him find his way made for a nice read. Each being has a story and I enjoyed being introduced to each one and learning some of their back stories. This is a good start to this new series. The characters are likeable, and the flow of the story is good and has you eager to return to this world to see what will happen next to Bob and this town.
Better Gnomes & Gardens by Casey Cardel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Better Gnomes & Gardens is a delightful paranormal cozy mystery and Casey’s debut book. It a fast-paced story with action, suspense, intrigue, and mystery. Casey has done well crafting this tale and has given us a rich vividly imagined world. It is set in the small town of Mysty Haven where not all is as it seems.
With a cast of quirky and vibrant characters that will make you smile and enjoy the humour. It is easy to fall in love with them and this mystical town.
Bob is out to help find a missing gnome but his sleuthing finds much more than he bargained for and is introduced to a brand-new world.
Casey Cardel is a new author and one to be watched. I look forward to reading more and can’t wait to see where Casey takes us next.
I highly recommended this book to anyone who loves this genre, humour and magical realism done well.
Reviewed by @jennadb
The Intruders by Brett McKay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was so good. Dex’s story had so many twists and turns it was nonstop action. I even liked the author commentary that was after each chapter as it gave me some insight into the inner workings of the author as he developed this amazing story. This story was jam packed with adventure and drama. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys paranormal stories with some bite.
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve said it before but I will say it again Masters of the Consulate is one of my absolute favourite epic series. I love dark stories and Sylvia’s tantalising Masters certainly give me that. This is Master Catteneo’s story and it is truly a delicious paranormal vampire romance tale. It is the fifth book in this amazing series and is just as good if not better than the others. Make sure you start with the first book in the series and work your way through. Trust me you will not be disappointed.
This riveting book is fast paced, intense, full of suspense, is super dangerous, and is steaming hot. There is nothing better than a host of sexy but vicious vampires, psychics, and a host of other paranormal beings. Where there is old world factions there is greed and revenge, secret agendas, politics and so much more.
Everyone is on high alert as one of their own goes missing. Master Catteneo leads the hunt but he is thrown a massive curve ball that throws him for a six. That is all I am going to tell you because this series is one to be savoured like a fine wine. Going in to it blind and discovering this dark wickedly delightful world all for yourself only makes it so much sweeter.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Better Gnomes & Gardens by Casey Cardel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Bob McLarney is having a bad day. He was just fired from his journalism position after a measly two weeks. The editor wanted a gripping story and Bob chose to write about the existence of Big Foot. Boss man wasn’t happy so Bob is looking for another source of income. He’s just moved to Mysty Haven and has a few months of free rent so he’s wanting to stay where he is.
Bob frequents the local coffee shop gathering any gossip that’s going on. He’s approached by an elderly man who’s looking for someone to help him find his newest gnome that’s gone missing from his garden. Bob agrees to help out but learns pretty quickly that Mysty Haven isn’t quite the place that he though it might be. He also learns that he’s not who he thought he was.
This was a fun little novella to read on a rainy afternoon. It includes all sorts of paranormal characters, most of which have some comical elements. This was an enjoyable short read.
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
While this is the fifth book in the series, it can still be read as a stand alone. However having read the previous four books in this series I will tell you that they are all as incredible as the next. The characters are simply amazing, the plot flows effortlessly, and there is plenty of romance and action to keep you on the edge of your seat. Full of danger, action, paranormal characters and more this book has a little bit of something for everyone. So whether your looking for a new book or a whole new series I would recommend you run out and pick up this book today.
Devlin by Angela K. Parker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Devlin is a frenemies-to-lovers new adult romance tale. This is not your typical office romance. Angela has written a delightful tale where there is lots of tension, angst, distaste, secrets and lies, omissions, and jobs on the line.
This is the corporate world where the next promotion is the main goal. However, playing with fire is oh so sweet. What happens when what is between the sheets is so much more? Is it worth breaking the rules? Is it worth the risk?
The chemistry between our MC’s is smoking hot when it gets going. I loved the wit and banter and found it easy to like them. There were times when I wanted to shake them but as they say the road to happiness is not paved in gold.
If you like a forbidden romance with a few twists and turns, then give this author a go and enjoy the sweet burn of this frenemies-to-lovers tale.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was so excited to get my hands on the next book in this series. Every book so far has been fantastic and this book certainly lives up to the reputation of the series. I was pulled into it effortlessly, right from the first page. It had the same dark and intense feeling to it that I have come to expect from this author and it just hooked me even more.
I loved the characters in this book. They had chemistry that was real and easy to connect with. I wanted to read more about them and see how things would play out. With each book in this series it honestly just gets better. I can’t wait to see what is next.
This is an entertaining and fun mystery story about a missing gnome and a quirky journalist. I was immediately engaged by this story and Bob was such a perfectly delightful character. This fun nature really suited the style of this book.
This is a new author to me and I enjoyed the mix of fantasy and mystery they wove through the book. It was a light hearted story for a mystery and that made me enjoy it all the more. This is a good start to a new series and I will be sure to read book 2.
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a fun, quick read. I do enjoy this genre a great deal. The chemistry between Alessia and Catteneo is good. The storyline/plot was interesting and provided a hook with the missing mates. I am looking forward to the final war.
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
Master Catteneo: Dark Vampire Romance (Masters of the Consulate #5) by Sylvia Black
This isn’t the first book I’ve read by the author. Master Catteneo is the fifth book in the Masters of the Consulate. Each book can be read as a standalone. Characters from the first four books are in this one. The author knows how to write the words we can’t stop reading.
Catteneo is one of the twelve masters. When one of the mates is kidnapped all the Masters come together. He goes to someone he knows only to find his mate. The granddaughter of the contact he has. The quote I chose for Catteneo is: “Do you mind if I take this with us? I have some contacts in the city I will reach out to. I expect Isala will contact you directly with demands. When you’ve got the rest of the team ready, meet me at my estate. Everyone can stay there. It has plenty of room. Meanwhile I want to talk to a few people.”
Alessia knows there are vampires out there. She also has the same power as her grandmother. When her Grandmother tells her that they are coming she understands. What she isn’t expecting is to find her mate. The quote I chose for Alessia is: “You don’t half to explain anything to me, Gramma. I’m sorry I questioned you. I’m just shocked. Why on earth would the vampires want to start a war now? They’re sitting at the top of the hierarchy in terms of power. They have the respect of almost everyone in the underworld. While I’m sure all the factions would love nothing more than to take that power, most people grudgingly respect the vampires for the way they’ve been able to assimilate into the modern world and their ability to work alongside even the Syndicate.”
Highly recommended for Paranormal Romance lovers.
After She Became a Lady by Wareeze Woodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. The synopsis grabbed my attention straight away as I love historical romance but this seemed have a bit of an added suspense and mystery to it so I couldn’t wait to get started. Laurel was such a wonderful character and for a woman so young she really came across as strong and brave – she really did cope well with everything she had to deal with in the absence of her new husband. The author writes historical romance very well, her descriptive language is great and her attention to detail makes the story very easy to imagine! Overall a great read!
Finding Bryce by Debra Parmley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book, from beginning to end I was thoroughly entertained. The authors writing was really engaging and my interest was held throughout. I love military romance reads so when I found this one I couldn’t wait to start it and I wasn’t disappointed. I loved the characters Pippa and Bryce. I loved their meeting and the definite attraction and passion that was there between them. The author threw in some nice twists to the story. I particularly loved the detail the author went into in some parts – I could definitely imagine what I was reading.
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This series just continues to get better and better with each book I read. I am totally hooked on this creative storyline that is weaving its way through all the books…Don’t get me wrong if you haven’t read the previous books you can still read this book and thoroughly enjoy it BUT if you read the entire series your enjoyment and understanding of the storyline as it unfurls will definitely be greatly enhanced. This very talented author so vividly creates the world and lives of the masters that you can so easily see in your minds eye the world around them and feel as though you are right there with them. I can’t wait for more!!!
Master Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the 5th book in a fantastic vampire romance series that I’m loving more and more as each book comes out. I read a lot of romance but not a lot of paranormal romance but this series has really gripped me, not just with the romance but the storyline that is running alongside. Each book can technically be read as a standalone but there is a continuing story running through the series.
In this book we are getting the story of Master Catteneo who has been given the job of finding Overmaster Descallia’s mate Lucianna. In carrying out this role he comes in contact with psychic Alessia who is determined to help him.
I really enjoyed reading Catteneo and Alessia’s story. This is definitely a story where true love does not run smoothly, There are so many bumps along the road for this pair which makes for very entertaining reading.
I love that we get to see the couples from previous books as it’s like meeting up with old friends and seeing what they have been up to since you last saw them.
This is a great series and I really loved this book.
