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A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris – Review by Rebecca Hill

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A Curse of Ash and IronA Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love historical fiction; while this book was a bit different from your normal historical fiction, it was a lot of fun to read! The book takes place in 1876 and is like a reimagined CInderella story, complete with a wicked stepmother. Ellie’s mom died, then her dad married Olivia. Olivia has somehow made everyone forget who Ellie is, even her dad doesn’t know who she is. Ellie is forced to live as a maid taking care of her stepmother and stepsister. She sees her childhood friend, Ben, and he knows who she is. Ellie is relieved to have someone in her court. Ellie and Ben go on several adventures as they try to break the curse and hold over Ellie. One of my favorite parts was them seeing the arm of the Statue of Liberty before she was built. I really enjoyed the historical aspects that were thrown in. Overall a great book worth the time and money!

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White Picket Fences by Kyle Ann Robertson – Review by Rebecca Hill

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White Picket FencesWhite Picket Fences by Kyle Ann Robertson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow, this book was so good. It was emotional; it was fast paced; it was relatable as a mom; it was all the things. A lot of feelings that a mom has, both good and bad, are expressed so well. The main character is Julie. As we all want more for our children, she wants her children to have what she did not. As a mom, Julie also struggles with losing who she is as a person. This book is well written and worth the time and the money.

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The Romanov Heiress by Jennifer Laam – Review by Rebecca Hill

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The Romanov HeiressThe Romanov Heiress by Jennifer Laam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is the first in a series. While I definitely want to read the next books, this book works well as a stand alone. It takes place in the early 1900s and follows the Romanov sisters. This book is mostly about the oldest sister, Olga. The next book will be about another one of the sisters. It was quite fascinating reading of their rescue and their fear of being discovered. Their fear was understandable and portrayed quite well. There was a twist at the end that I did not see coming. That was fun to read. Overall, it is a wonderful historic fiction that is worth the time to read!

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Fallen Soul (War of Destiny Book 4) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Fallen Soul (War of Destiny # 4)Fallen Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is the fourth in a series. While this technically could be read without reading the other books, I wouldn’t recommend it. There are a lot of characters, and it is a continuation of an overall story. This book is almost a retelling of book three. The first three books follow Julia’s point of view. This one follows Lane who Julia meets in book 3. We get to see the rest of what was going on during the third book. I completely enjoyed this one as an avid reader of the series. I have enjoyed all four in the series and am anxiously awaiting the rest of the story. If you haven’t read the series, go read it!

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Streets of Shadow by Rebecca Bischoff – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Streets of ShadowStreets of Shadow by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book so much! It was a wonderful historical fiction that takes place in 1665. I also really enjoyed how clean the story was. Kenna Somerled is the granddaughter of an Earl. She is devastated when her sister dies. She is certain that her brother in law, Oliver, killed her sister. She tells her grandfather then finds herself whisked away and left in a slum area. The area gets locked down for having the plague, and she finds herself stuck there. While on the streets, she finds a little girl. While Kenna saved the little girl, the little girl also saved Kenna. There were a couple of twists that were well foreshadowed, and I was able to figure them out. But the big twist completely threw me for a loop! This is well worth your time to read!

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The Thieves (The Millersville series) by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Rebecca Hill

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The ThievesThe Thieves by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is part of a series, however it reads as a stand alone. The writing for this book was really good. The author does a good job developing the characters and making them relatable. I wasn’t a huge fan of the plot in this story. I found it to be semi unbelievable and some responses to be on the weird side. But, at the same time, I wanted to finish it and find out how everything was resolved. Jas and Phil are the main characters and find themselves robbed of the money that they stole. They end up chasing the robbers across the country and picking up a couple of accomplices along the way. I really enjoyed the twists and turns at the end. Overall a fun read and I’m looking forward to more of the series!

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Real Movie Hero (Green Brotherhood: SEAL Team XII Book 2) by Debra Parmley – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Real Movie HeroReal Movie Hero by Debra Parmley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the second in a series. It reads just fine as a stand alone. I enjoyed the story, but I definitely wished there was more! Christie Anderson attends a movie premiere and meets Reed Tindal. Reed’s protective nature takes over when someone shoots during the movie. I felt like the characters were relatable, and I could see myself in Christie. The language in it was mild which I personally liked. It was a sweet, relatable short story that was fun and fast to read.

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Shore Lodge by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller (The Millersville series)Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a book! This story is a psychological thriller or suspense. Jacklyn Stone is a grieving widow. Her husband died eight months earlier, and she has struggled to get her feet under her and find a new normal. Her adult children Rose and Dusty have been helping her. Jacklyn has no reason to doubt when her son asks to be her power of attorney nor when he and her daughter ask her to stay a few days at a grief facility. She never dreamed the depth of Dusty’s deception or his greed. I was shocked and disgusted that Dusty could lie and trick everyone in order to take over Jacklyn’s money and life. What Jacklyn goes through is horrific to be completely sane and to be unwillingly admitted to a psychiatric hospital. I could hardly put the book down, because I had to know what happened to Jacklyn. I was so angry with Dusty and even a little with Rose. This book is worth the time and was well written!

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The 45th Parallel (Antipodes Series Book 6) by T.S. Simons – Review by Rebecca Hill

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The 45th Parallel (Antipodes, #6)The 45th Parallel by T.S. Simons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the sixth book in a series. I would highly recommend reading the series in order. Of all the books, this one is the only one that could possibly work as a stand alone. Whereas the rest of the series is about Cam, Freyja, and other main characters, this book is about their daughters Caitlin and Seraphina. I have read all of the other books and really enjoyed this follow up book about the daughters who are all grown up. We get to see how life has progressed on earth and the effects worldwide. I think because this book was about young people there was more language than in other books. Caitlin is very much a brat and highly intelligent and struggling to figure out where she fits in. I loved the story and recommend reading the entire series along with this book!

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Grace Under Fire (The Anderson Sisters Book 2) by Jennifer Raines – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Grace Under Fire (The Anderson Sisters Book 2)Grace Under Fire by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the second in a series, but it reads well as a stand alone. I had not read the previous book and had no trouble with the characters or following along. Grace Anderson is set to take over the farm from her parents. She has become an expert cheesemaker and is working on improvements for the farm. She doesn’t expect to have to deal with Ryan Wilson nor to have to buy her parents’ farm right now. I enjoyed the romance part of the story between Ryan and Grace. I also enjoyed the suspense of who was causing trouble on the farm. Overall an enjoyable read!

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Chasing Redemption (The Quimby Grove Series Book 2) by Shannon Nikole – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Chasing Redemption (Quimby Grove #2)Chasing Redemption by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the second in a series. I read the first one and loved the continuation of the characters. However, this book can definitely be read as a stand alone. One of the main characters is Max Quinn, and he owns a bar in Quimby Grove Max meets Marley on a beach for an illicit moment, and he doesn’t even know Marley’s name. When they meet again 5 years later, Max is surprised that his feelings for Marley haven’t changed and shocked to learn that he has a kid with Marley. This was a sweet and enjoyable story. I enjoyed reading this book and reading more of the characters from Quimby Grove. My one complaint was that I felt that the language was unnecessarily excessive. Overall, it is a great story with a sweet romance.

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Falling Home (Buckeye Falls Book 1) by Libby Kay – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Falling HomeFalling Home by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a sweet book. It was enjoyable, sweet, and whimsical. Ginny Myer goes to her hometown in Buckeye Falls, Ohio. Her father is having surgery, so she is going home to take care of him. She tries to ignore her ex-husband, Max Sanchez, but she has forgotten how sweet and caring he is. She decides to help out with the community event, the Christmas Jubilee. When she and Max work together, they quickly realize that they still have intense feelings for each other. Can they overcome the years apart? Find out in this cute and enjoyable story!

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A Dowry of Snails and Mud by Brittany Tucker – Review by Rebecca Hill

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A Dowry of Snails and MudA Dowry of Snails and Mud by Brittany Tucker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book so much!! Everything about it appealed to me from the inner dialogue to the quirky sayings to the overall story. One time she said fart in a jam jar, and I laughed so hard at that! Rhiannon Caddell or Rhia as she is known is the main character. She is to marry the crown prince of Wales, Emerys. She is quite determined to not like him and to make his life miserable – not unreasonable when you are forced to marry someone. She discovers that maybe he isn’t too bad overall. He might even be able to help her land and people with the money they owe and with the wild men who attack them. I loved every second of this book and highly recommend it!

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Delicious Death (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 2) by Byrd Nash – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Delicious Death (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #2)Delicious Death by Byrd Nash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the second in a series. It works quite well on its own and is easily followed. But it does pick up from the first book and would be enjoyed following it. After the initial set up, the story is fast paced and holds your attention well. Elinor Chalamet is bored and looking for another adventure. She definitely finds one at the Winter Revels. This was a captivating read and enjoyable!

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Revenge Never Rests (Tallie Brown Suspense Book 2) by Laurie Lewis – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Revenge Never RestsRevenge Never Rests by Laurie L.C. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is the second in a series. I did not read the first book, and I was able to follow along just fine. There was some struggle to get everyone straight, but nothing I wouldn’t have expected. My favorite part of this book was that it was clean and didn’t have the F word on every page. That was incredibly refreshing especially paired with a great story! Tallie Brown is a strong female character with completely relatable doubts and issues. I enjoyed hearing her thoughts and reservations. This book is worth the time to read. I look forward to reading more from this author!

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Beast (Popov Bratva Book 5) by Leslie Georgeson – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Beast (Popov Bratva #5)Beast by Leslie Georgeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is part of a series, but it works as a stand alone book. I have not read any of the other books yet, but I still enjoyed this one. The main characters are Adrik and Annika. Adrik has facial disfiguration from his childhood and hides his face. Annika requests that Adrik guard her, and they grow close during that time. The story was a little predictable about the mafia princess falling in love with her guard, but it was well written and enjoyable. The best part of the story was that both characters had trauma that they pushed through. I loved that they helped each other grow and overcome their trauma.

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Borrowed Time by Lane Cohen – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Borrowed TimeBorrowed Time by Lane Cohen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What’s not to love about gunslingers and time travel? Like others have mentioned, I hope there is a sequel or maybe just a continuation or side novel. I enjoyed how details of the past were woven artfully into the story. I found myself thinking about if I could time travel – what would I do? Would I change my past? To me, the best books are the ones that you continue thinking about after you are done reading. Well worth the time to read!

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The Kidnapping by Linda Burson – Review by Rebecca Hill

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The KidnappingThe Kidnapping by Linda Burson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a sweet romance. Jenna Ladson is a wealthy woman who has learned that most people are only interested in her for her money. She breaks up with her fiance Steven after he cheats on her. Even so, she can hardly believe that he would set up a fake kidnapping. Thankfully, Andy Porter accidentally intercepted the instructions for her kidnapper. Andy has his own struggles. As they get to know each other, they fall in love. I enjoyed the resolution of the kidnapping with the action at the end of the book. It was a sweet story and a pleasant read.

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Defiant Princess (Mafia Elite Series Prequel) by Amy McKinley – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Defiant Princess (Mafia Elite Prequel)Defiant Princess by Amy McKinley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this series, and I was so excited for this book! It did not disappoint, and I really enjoyed reading more of the backstories of Liliana, Emiliana, Sofia, and Eva. But it was disappointing that it was so short! Reading about Marissa’s death is important within the scope of the whole series too. Overall, a great read especially if you are reading the series. It would still work as a stand alone book but would leave me anxious to read the other books!

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Chevalier (War Horses Book 1) by Scott Warren – Review by Rebecca Hill

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War Horses Book 1: ChevalierWar Horses Book 1: Chevalier by Scott Warren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book one in a series and was definitely not what I was expecting. I don’t think I have ever read a sci-fi book with a military theme. It doesn’t take place on Earth. The main character is Rande “Vandal” VanDelle, and he is from a planet called Teutonia. As a contractor working on the tanks, Vandal never intends to see any real action. However, that all changes when he takes a tank out and comes under military fire and has to make life or death decisions. It was a fun book, and even if this isn’t a normal book for you, it might just surprise you.

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After She Became a Lady by Wareeze Woodson – Review By Rebecca Hill

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After She Became a LadyAfter She Became a Lady by Wareeze Woodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love historical fiction, and this one did not disappoint. My only complaint is that the story seemed short and not completely fleshed out. Even so, I still really enjoyed it. 17 year old Laurel marries her flame, Robert Laningham. They both adore each other and expect marriage to be easy. Laurel doesn’t expect resistance from her husband’s twin sister, Rhonda, nor does she expect Robert to leave for the war with Spain. When Robert returns from Spain, he acts differently and doesn’t believe what Laurel says. They must overcome Rhonda and a thief and learn to depend on each other. Well written and enjoyable to read!

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The Intruders by Brett McKay – Review by Rebecca Hill

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The IntrudersThe Intruders by Brett McKay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was completely different from many other books that I have read. To be quite honest, I didn’t know if I liked it or didn’t like it, but at the same time, I could not put it down. Dex Sanders and his wife Reagan find themselves kidnapped and have no idea why. Thus begins a story of conspiracy and secrets so big it affects the entire world. I enjoyed the action as Dex and others fight the aliens from taking over the world and killing them. Also, the author made comments after every chapter. It was really interesting to read his thoughts. I loved the little side story of Pam and Connor. There will definitely be other books, and I look forward to reading them as well.

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The Veil by Wanda Luthman – Review by Rebecca Hill

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The VeilThe Veil by Wanda Luthman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book Is an uplifting, short story! The story is about Samuel as he turns 13 years old in the first century AD. He turns 13 and is invited to serve in the Tabernacle as an understudy to the priest. This is a high honor for Samuel. His first day serving happens to be the day that Jesus was crucified on the cross. I enjoyed the description of the wonder and amazement by Samuel and by the priest as they experienced the ripping of the Temple curtain when Jesus died. I also enjoyed the peace and love that Samuel felt. This is a fast, easy, but sweet story and worth the time!

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Sessrúmnir (Antipodes Series Book 5) by T.S. Simons – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Sessrumnir (Antipodes #5)Sessrumnir by T.S. Simons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is the 5th book in a series and brings the series to conclusion. I enjoyed this book as I did the entire series. I highly recommend reading the other books in order first, before reading this one. There are a lot of characters and would be quite confusing if starting with this book. This book follows Freyja and is told from her point of view, rather than from Cam’s. She wrestles with herself a lot and is struggling with PTSD. She wrestles with not feeling like she’s enough and that resonated soundly with me. I really enjoyed the mystery and danger in this one. I could not figure out who was behind it. The book (and series) was well written and highly enjoyable! You won’t regret reading it!

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Necrosis by C.L. Schneider – Review by Rebecca Hill

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NecrosisNecrosis by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely hated this book! You might be asking why I gave it 4 stars then? Ok fine; I hated that it ended with a mother’s sacrifice for her daughter! The writing was so good, and it pulled me in right from the beginning. This book is a post-apocalyptic book about a woman named Amy and her daughter, Lila. I loved how it was told from Amy’s perspective and the reader gets to hear her thoughts. I related to her desire to protect her daughter and talking herself into doing things she didn’t want to do. I thought her struggles were quite realistic and grieved the choices she had to make. This is a short read and was well written!

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Gathering of the Four (The Serrulata Saga Book 1) by A.E. Bennett – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Gathering of the Four (The Serrulata Saga #1)Gathering of the Four by A.E. Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the first in a series, and I cannot wait until the next one comes out! It will be on my calendar! This book was unique in its story while still having a Hunger Games Capitol vibe. The main characters are Leora, Roland, Aurora, and Leopold. Each one has their own section with backstory and are quite different from each other. They come together to run from the evil sovereign, Alrich, along with his henchman, the White Riders. There is a bit of mystery about a Border and The Realm. It is hinted at, and I’m looking forward to those revelations in future books. The only downside, for me, was the unexpected explicit scenes in the later parts of the story. It didn’t add anything to the story, in my opinion. However, it was a fantastic book and well worth the read!

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In Plain Sight (Logan McKenna Mystery Series Book 8) by Valerie Davisson – Review by Rebecca Hill

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In Plain Sight: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 8In Plain Sight: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 8 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is book 8 in a series. I had not read the previous ones, and I was able to follow along. There were a lot of characters which would have been less confusing had I read previous stories. Overall the story captured my attention and was a great suspense and mystery. I had several guesses on who the murderer was, but ultimately I just wasn’t sure until it was revealed at the end. I loved the action in later parts of the book as well as discovering the mysteries. Great book, and I enjoyed it!

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The Letter Carrier by L.C. Lewis – Review by Rebecca Hill

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The Letter CarrierThe Letter Carrier by Laurie L.C. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a powerful riveting story. This book was based on a true story and follows Michelle Naget’s story and the French amidst the Nazi invasion. It was powerful yet so tasteful and well done. I loved that graphic details were not necessary due to the skill of the author. I am a huge fan of historical fiction, but this book is just on a different scale. It is a story worth every minute, and I wish that everyone, from teen and up, could read it.

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Fairly Royal (The Fair Series Book 4) by Grace Grahme – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Fairly Royal (Fair, #4)Fairly Royal by Grace Grahme
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I started this book, I did not think I was going to like it. I was worried it was going to be less about the story and more about being steamy. I’m happy to say that I was wrong! It was such a good book! Anna McDonnell has known Phillip Sutherland for many years and has had a crush on him. He has only recently begun to see her as a woman and not his best friend’s sister. He comes up with the idea of having her pretend to be his girlfriend to help ease some of the pressures against him. Anna is happy to go along with his plan and hopes she can turn it from something pretend to something real. Their feelings for each other become quite real. But can they overcome all the things against them? Can they ignore the paparazzi? Can they ignore the rest of High Society? Find out in this entertaining story! I loved the battle of wills between Anna and Phillip’s mother. There were a lot of unusual words (for us in America), and I enjoyed that too. Overall, it was a great book!

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Rivals (Mafia Elite Book 7) by Amy McKinley – Review by Rebecca Hill

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Rivals (Mafia Elite, #7)Rivals by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is the seventh in a series and can easily be read as a stand alone book. Each book follows a member of the 5 Italian American mafia families from Chicago. This book is about Mia Tucci from the New York mafia and Nico la Rosa. First of all, if you haven’t read this series, run, don’t walk and get it! I love it when a new story comes out. It feels like when a season of your favorite show starts and you get to hang out with all the characters – just comfortable and happy! This book started with a bang and caught my attention with Mia getting kidnapped. I was immediately drawn into her story and could hardly put the book down. There was a twist at the end that I loved, some of which I saw coming. I felt like this book wasn’t quite as explicit as some of the others, but I liked that. Well worth your time!

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