Caspian’s UnBirthday by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a really cute book! It was also a very silly book! Caspian’s Unbirthday presents are always crazy and fun and adventurous. I love his grandpa, he seems like so much fun to me. The illustrations in this book are colorful and the story is enthralling and keeps you gripped. Children of all ages should enjoy this story very much!
Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 star read
I really tried to get into this book, the premise was good and I felt like it had a lot of potential but it me it just kind of fell flat. I didn’t enjoy the multiple point of views and the time hopping. Or or felt like time hopping to me. To me the events felt disjointed, and it was hard for me to connect with the story and stay interested. I really wanted to like this one because it sounded so interesting but I just couldn’t. The writing was well done though, I enjoyed the writing and when I wasn’t confused with the time hopping I was easily immersed.
Savage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite Prequel by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a really good read! I was pleasantly surprised while reading this, not only because I wasn’t sure what to expect but also because this was a short novella, at only 55 pages. For only 55 pages this author packed a lot of story and content in this novella! This left off on a cliff hanger and there might be a TW for death/suicide if that is a trigger for anyone. But the ending and just the story in general has left me very eager to read the first book in this series! Kudos to the author for a great lead-up story!
Bees in Loretta’s Bonnet by Lois J. Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really cute book! Not was only was it cute it was also informative about bees. This book is definitely for older children in my opinion, because younger children aren’t going to understand some of the science and logistics of this story. There are also some really neat and interesting crafts and projects at the end of this book that kids would enjoy!
Fear Inc.: Volume Three by Melinda Valentine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good read! This can be read as a standalone, although there were a lot of characters that I am assuming are from the previous books that make appearances and so that was a little confusing. But it had really no bearing on the storyline of this book so it can still be read as a standalone in my opinion. This was book was spicy, and the main characters had all the tension. I really enjoyed the story and the characters and would enjoy reading the the other books and continuing this series.
Married Blind by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good read! I was thrown a little off by some of the reality TV stuff mentioned in the book, it’s not really my thing, but besides that this was a really good book. The chemistry between Abi and Fin was phenomenal. I enjoyed their banter and coming together even if forced proximity isn’t my favorite trope. I didn’t feel like I missed anything from the first one, so this can be read as a standalone. I’m excited to read more from this author in the future!
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good read! It was a very descriptive book, especially for being as short as it was. While I enjoyed the descriptions, sometimes they were a bit much though and it made this story feel longer than it was. This book had a historical and fantasy feel, made more so by the formal language and wording used. This was a good prequel though and makes me excited to read the next book!
A Dowry of Snails and Mud by Brittany Tucker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a really good read! I was pleasantly surprised by this one, and it kept me entertained throughout reading it. I loved Rhia’s attitude, humor, and just general self. I giggled several times just from her internal thoughts about the royals. For a book that has somewhat of a mystery surrounding it and some turmoil with the king outlying people, it had a happy ending! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would definitely read more from this author in the future!
My Pearl Heart by J.N. Sheats
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’m giving this book 3.5 stars. I really did enjoy this book, but the characters and toxic relationships have me rating it lower. The “best friend” was one of the worst friendships I’ve ever read. I was wanting to throttle both her and the main character Jasmine the whole time I was reading this book. And the “boyfriend”? He was just as bad as the best friend. The only relationship that wasn’t toxic was the one between Jasmine and her assistant, Carmen. Other than the very blatant toxicity that had me raging at the characters, I did enjoy this book and it was entertaining for what it was.
The Husbands by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a really good book! This author usually writes paranormal fiction, so this was a surprise getting a contemporary book instead. I really enjoyed having this one set in a non-paramormal type setting! It was a fast paced novel, in a way that not a lot of details were missed out on. This author usually doesn’t disappoint and this book was no exception! I would love to see more books like this on the future!
Ladybugs for Loretta by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really cute read. It is a very informational children’s book about ladybugs. This is not a book for younger children, I think it would make more sense to older children. The illustrations were cute as well. I look forward to reading this to my daughter when she gets older and understands more about ladybugs and science and has more comprehension when it comes to things like that.
Underboss’s Retaliation by Via Mari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a very good book! This one picks up pretty much where the first one left off, and as it has been a while since I read the first one I did it take me a bit to remember what was going on. I don’t recommend reading this as a standalone, because there are a lot of recurring characters and events that pertain to the main story. This book was action packed, tense, romantic, and full of suspense as well. I highly recommend this book as well as the first one.
The Taste of Light by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really good book! It was very well written. It was a well woven story of hope, love, and dreams with some darkness thrown in there to spice the story up. This is the second book in a series but can be read as a standalone. Both books were really good, I’m not sure which I would call my favorite. But I do know this one was beautifully written and well crafted and I’m excited to read more from this author in the future.
Falling Home by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a cute second chance romance read! I really enjoyed the holiday vibes in this one, and the small characters were so sweet. I wasn’t too enthused about it being a second chance book because I don’t really enjoy that trope much but this one was really good. It was great to see the characters reconcile. This book was also very well written I thought. It was funny, emotional at parts and tender hearted. This is the first book I’ve read from this author but I would love to read more in the future!
If I had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a really cute book! It’s perfect for little babies and young children, and if you have just had a child be prepared for the emotions because this one will probably get you. I really enjoyed reading this one and automatically thought of my daughter, because I hold so many of the same wishes mentioned in this book in my heart for her and her future. I really liked this story and highly recommend it!
Kamana Wanalaya for the Holidays by Susan Renee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a cute read! It was funny and heartwarming. I thought it was kind of cynical at the beginning but the ending made the cynicism worth it. Even though the ending was predictable I still enjoyed reading this holiday, grumpy/sunshine story. It was well written, enthralling and kept me entertained for me the most part throughout it. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’m looking forward to reading more in the future!
Road to the Mansfield by CB Laurence
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really good book! It was very well written, and was mysterious enough to keep me enthralled throughout the whole thing. I really enjoyed the scene the author set up, and to me the beginning was a little reminiscent of Where The Crawdads Sing. The imagery throughout the book was really good. I also enjoyed the multiple POVs in this book and the twist at the end was exceptional. I’m excited to see where this series goes from here!
Murder on oak street by I. M. Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really good book! While the mystery was fairly predictable in my opinion, it was well written and enthralling enough to catch my attention and hold it. I enjoyed the characters and I felt like the author did a good job keeping it historically accurate while also making the book easy to read. It didn’t feel like a quick read to me, but nevertheless I still enjoyed it and will definitely be checking out more books from this author in the future!
Where Do Pirates Go on Vacation? : Fun pirate story that encourages imaginative and creative thinking. Ages 3 to 8, preschool to 2nd grade. by Kim Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a really cute book! My daughter who is 2 absolutely loved this one! She picked out the treasure, boats and shells, and just had so much fun with this one. The pictures were very cute and well illustrated as well. I highly enjoyed this and enjoyed reading it to my daughter as well! I would love to read more stories from this author to my daughter in the future!
Amaleigha Loves a Good Story by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a really good story! For a children’s book it was very inspiring too. I really like the lesson inside this book that says if you have enough determination you can make anything a reality. My daughter is too young to enjoy this book, she wouldn’t understand the message inside or anything really, but I really want to read this to her when she gets older and can understand that she can make a difference in the world if she just imagines and tries.
The Sneaky Kitten: Invisible Magic Wand Book Four by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really cute book! It wasn’t very realistic, but it had a good story to it and cute illustrations. I think this would be a book that could make kids laugh. I would love to read this to my daughter but she’s too young to care or understand what’s going on. I would recommend this to any young child! This author hardly ever disappoints when it comes to children’s stories and this one wasn’t a disappointment!
I Love You Today by Julie Navickas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really good read! I was glad to see characters back from the first book. O really enjoyed getting a perspective from Austin, he was a great character in the first book and this one didn’t disappoint. This can be read a standalone but there are a few recurring characters from the first book. I’m glad I decided to pick these books because are they great books that made me feel all the emotions. I’m excited to read the final book in this trilogy soon!
The Daredevil by Nadia Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really good book! There’s one circumstance that ties the characters together but for the most part this reads like a standalone so I don’t think you have to read the first book to enjoy this one. This book takes place in Iceland, and the imagery the author uses is just magnificent. I thought I was right there with them. I really enjoyed this story and the characters. It’s full of romance and will keep you reading and engaged with the story! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
Painter of the Damned by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really good sequel! I think this one was just as good as the first. It had the thrills, suspense, mystery and action all like the first one did. I’m not sure exactly which one I enjoyed more, they both have great qualities to the story that made it enjoyable. I actually missed this little historical adventure after the first book so I was very excited to get to dive back into the world. If you like historical crime mystery books, then these are definitely for you!
The Sacrifice by R.L.S. Hoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really interesting read! It was an interesting world, and story, and was very easy to read. The imagery and descriptions in this books were fantastic as well, I felt like I was right there with everything the characters did and went. The chapters were also pretty short, which made it a quick read. This is the first book I’ve read from this author before, and I really enjoyed it and hope to read more in the future!
Revenge Honeymoon by K.J. Gillenwater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really good read! I had a little trouble at the beginning telling the characters apart with the third person POV, but it didn’t take long to straighten out for me. I enjoyed the story and the plot, I laughed along with the characters and was immersed in the story. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’m excited to read more in the future!
Shadow Patterns of Melt – Book One by J.R.P. Fogg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good read. I was a little iffy with it just because of all the science fiction jargon. I love sci-fi, but sometimes the jargon just gets me and this was one of those times. Once I got passed the confusion I really enjoyed the story. I just don’t think I was in the mood for this particular one today though. I really enjoyed the characters, and it was a very unique story. I would love to give this another reread once I’m in the mood for science fiction again though!
Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a cute story! I was impressed with the level of imagery the author used for this book, so much so that I feel like unless it’s an older child reading this book, it would go over the top of many children’s heads. I really enjoyed how sweet the characters were, and the focal point of the story being nature. There is a good opportunity in this book to teach children about the changing seasons as well. Overall this was a cute story that I enjoyed reading!
The Rom Com Movie Club – Book One by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was such a cute read! It was quick paced, and the characters were extremely lovable. It felt like I flew through this one. I loved the witty banter between the girls, and how fiercely they fight for and love each other. I loved the romance between Ryan and Lisa, it was extremely sweet. I cried a few times, and it was very emotional to me. I’m very glad I picked this one up and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
Borrowed Time by Lane Cohen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good read! It was a little more science fiction than I was expecting, I was hoping for more fantasy but it was still really good. I think though, that the sci-fi threw me off, because I had trouble staying focused and concentrated on the story, and found myself zoning out a lot. That’s more on me, and I don’t think ibwas in the mood to read sci-fi, because the story was really good! It had a really interesting plot and went pretty fast. I just wasn’t in the mood to read that type of book, so I would love to go back when I am in the mood and see how much better I like it when I’m anticipating it!
