Savage Start by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Savage Start is a Hidden Valley Elite Prequel, it is a very quick contemporary romance, bully/enemies to lovers. Definitely not a standalone as it ends with a big cliffhanger to lead you into Savage Lies. This gets us ready for Riley and Coles story. Very well written, can’t wait to keep reading this series.
The Round Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Round Box is part of the Grandma’s Closet series of children’s books. They don’t have to be read in order, each is its own book with the same characters. Carrie’s grandma used to live with them, but moved across town. She left behind some things, which are stored in a closet. Carrie is looking for things to do, and sneaks in to search through some of the boxes. The item she removes is quite fascinating. Its a little bit magical, and makes Carrie’s room do some weird things. While I felt the book was good and magical, my son said it doesn’t make sense. He is almost 8 and a little too practical for kid books- so for this reason, I recommend it for a slightly younger audience. The illustrations are colorful and fun. There are certain action words with different font, which was fun.
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
Pursuit into Darkness by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is book two of the series. I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the beginning! Questions I had from the first book were answered in this one. We continue to follow Julia through heartbreak and tragedy. I definitely recommend this book!
Lost Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was not sure what to expect out of this book, but I ended up really enjoying it! I was drawn into this book and it felt like I was right beside Julia and was going through the exact same things. I definitely recommend this book!
The Human Mating Site Box Set 1 : A Steamy, Dating Humour Novella’s 1-4 by B.L. Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is four short novellas that go together to become a great story. The main character Bella thinks life is great until her husband of 12 years tells her he doesn’t want to be with her anymore. It turns her life upside down and she needs to learn who she is without him. In the first novella she talks through her separation and meets a guy named Liam who she calls her sex coach. She needs to feel wanted and Liam is a great coach. She decided to join a few dating sites to meet men. The next three novellas each talk about a guy that she gets involved with. Bella is strong, she is surrounded by some amazing friends, and she is learning what she needs in life. She also has a really witty inner monologue that sometimes comes right out of her mouth. So she is sometimes awkward and she also has some meat on her bones. There are going to be more in the series and I can’t wait to read them. This is a pretty steamy romance but it was funny and a page turner!
Savage Start by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A great way to start off a series. Leaves you wanting more and more. A book complete with teenagers, hot guys, parties and family drama. A prequel story to Savage Lies and it’s a steamy one. Your introduced to the 3 main characters right at the beginning of the story. Brothers Cole and Damon and the new girl who just has moved into town named Riley. Where Riley goes it seems that trouble always follows as her and her mom are always on the run. Cole and Damon have so much going on family wise that their lives are turned upside down. In this short prequel you will laugh, cry, scream and just keep turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Song of Earth and Claws by Lena Abram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was looking for a fantasy that wasn’t part of an epic series to fit my current schedule and this seemed the perfect fit. This had everything I was hoping for; I was not disappointed in the adventure the danger, romance and the creatures within.
I loved the idea for this plot, I thought it was quite unique. There was a lot of detail, especially in the world building which was great and helped create the feeling that I was stepping into the world.
My only criticism in this regard, would be that there is so much detail in all areas except the bit that seems the most crucial to the plot – the Game. I was able to follow along, but I feel it would have made even more sense with more information and background on this.
I was 100% invested in Lannahi and her journey to coming into her own. I really enjoyed her strength and how she dealt with the betrayal she had experienced. I was rooting for her start to finish.
This was the first book that I’ve read by the author and I will definitely be looking out for more!
Good Enough — The Deadman’s Tribe Book 1: A Protector Romance / Romantic Suspense by Nicole Craig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
While I was hesitant about this one after the beginning I ended up loving it! Kai and Waters are wonderful characters. They made me laugh and cry! They both are deep and have a lot of secrets between them. Not only are these two unforgettable characters but the author created a team that hold up to the high standards of the two main characters. I enjoyed my time with them and seeing them work together was great.
This is a incredible first book for this author. The story is well put together and moves along at a good pace. It enthralled me and kept me engaged. This has a lot of cute little pieces that make this enjoyable as the author carries them throughout the whole story. Example: backpack of death or the list of creative words. Thinking of those just makes me smile.
Overall this brought me much enjoyment. I look forward to more in this series and from this author! But I really want all these boys..Ahem men to get their special someone.
Good Enough — The Deadman’s Tribe Book 1: A Protector Romance / Romantic Suspense by Nicole Craig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Good Enough (The Deadman’s Tribe Series Book 1) by Nicole Craig. I absolutely loved this book! I can’t wait for the next one! This is the story of Kai who is a Hollywood director who is in need of a Navy Seal to make this film as real as possible. Waters is sent and he’s not in the mood for this beautiful lady director and he surely doesn’t want the feelings he’s having about her. He senses something is off the moment he gets on set and his boss feels the same way. Things begin to happen that shouldn’t, accidents that shouldn’t happen and things going missing and to top it all off Kai’s brother goes missing. Waters is going to do whatever he can to protect Kai even though she doesn’t even realize she’s in danger. Will Waters be able to keep her safe, find her brother and at the same time fight his attraction to Kai? Such a good debut read!
The Human Mating Site Box Set 1 : A Steamy, Dating Humour Novella’s 1-4 by B.L. Wilde
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Human Mating Site, Box Set 1 (The Human Mating Site Series) by B.L. Wilde. This is such a fun set of Novella’s. Its full of sizzling romance and funnies during the midst of dating. The first on is the Tale of Bella where Bella just finds out her man is cheating on her with a twin of her. The girl’s name is even Bella but the difference is the new Bella is all about his money and what he can buy for her. What follows are the stories of the different men Bella dates. In Mr. Smooth, we meet Liam who is a smooth talker and when they first meet they have some hot encounters. Then with Liam’s advice she joins a dating website and meets Jack in Mr. Player. Jack and Bella just never really hit it off and it fizzles before it starts. in Mr. Kinky she meets Jenson while on a girls trip and he owns the bar the girls are at. He teaches Bella a lot more than just plain jane fun. She learns to be more adventuresome in all areas of her life and the pages sizzle! This is such a fun set of romance reads that are short and adventuresome.
Song of Earth and Claws by Lena Abram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Song of Earth and Claws is a fantasy story set in a world of fae where clear rules and procedures dictate how politics and justice are acted out. This includes how and in what circumstances revenge should be taken, and how kingdoms can be lost and run.
The main character, Lannahi, is a young adult and daughter of a powerful king. Secrets from her past mean that she has to work strategically to keep her family safe. She has to make a bold and dramatic gesture that will make her vulnerable and isolate her, but could also bring her power and, eventually, safety.
I enjoy the world created in this story. There are clear social structures which mean that actions and decisions have inevitable consequences. This adds to the tension of some of the more dramatic scenes as we wonder what the knock-on effects will be.
The over-the-shoulder narrative lets us see how Lannahi analyses different situations and chooses her course of action. Her naivety can be frustrating at times but serves as a reminder of her youth, and that she wasn’t intended and therefore adequately prepared for the world she has ended up in.
This book gets five stars from me, and I look forward to reading more Faelands books! I’d recommend it to fans of high fantasy who enjoy stories with intrigue and romance. Particularly if you like books with lots of music in them, this is for you!
Shifter Shorts by T.K. Lawyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This collection of “shorts” is a cute, sexy, easy read. Different couples, different shifters, different situations. All determined to get their mate.
This is not my first story from this author so I knew things would be steamy and interesting to say the least. Most of the stories in this collection I enjoyed more than others. With my favorite two being Gargoyle Mine and Haven. I would have loved a different ending for Release the Hellhound, but I did like the way Mate for Draco wrapped it up.
Many short stories are just a tease, a sample of a couple and their situation. Oftentimes I find it difficult when reading to get the full picture. A few of these shorts are that way, here’s hoping this author writes more about these couples because I really need more shark shifter and gargoyle stories!!
Mission Improbable:Vietnam by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mission Improbable: Vietnam is Book 3 in the Blanche Murninghan Mystery Series in my opinion is best to read the books in order but you don’t have to. I loved following Blanche and Jean as they journey to Vietnam and of course the journey is full of twists and turns. This is a perfect cozy mystery to cuddle up with and enjoy.
Pursuit into Darkness by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the second book in the series and can be read as a stand alone. I did not read the first book before this one and I felt like I didn’t miss anything that would make this book hard to understand. What I did feel was missing was more of the background story. I am sure that I would be given that in book one. So, it isn’t super important to read the first one but you might want to, to have a better understanding of what each of the characters are going through and have been through. This book has everything you could possibly think of for a book to have. It has intrigue, mystery, the evolution of characters, and an amazing plot line. Speaking of characters in this book, they will run you through the ringer. I have gone from loving them to hating them back to loving them. It felt like a viscous cycle but it is worth it in the end. I promise. If you have loved any vampire story, this is going to be a series that you will want to read. I am not normally a reader of paranormal, I will but it isn’t always my first choice. However, this book made it enjoyable to read and I will go and read the first one because this book takes a jump forward in the time line of the story. I have a feeling that I will feel even more connected to the characters by doing that. Maybe, I will even have a roller coaster of emotions again.
Reviewed by: @bbohls
The Human Mating Site Box Set 1 : A Steamy, Dating Humour Novella’s 1-4 by B.L. Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is full of short Novellas about Bella’s dating life as she rediscovers herself following the break down of her marriage. They are funny, heart warming with a little bit of steam. I think these are nice cosy reads if you want to read a quick easy book.
A New Day For Cray by G. Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this lovely story about friendship for the young and older alike! Cray has a bad habit of pinching and teasing his friends, but his friends do not like this and teach him about what it means to be a good friend. This is a fun story with colourful illustrations. Highly recommended!
The Human Mating Site Box Set 1 : A Steamy, Dating Humour Novella’s 1-4 by B.L. Wilde
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This box set is the beginning of the Tale of Bella!! Bella recently found out that her husband (Mr. Wimp) was cheating on her with an almost carbon copy of her. The chick’s name was even Bella. The one big difference is that new Bella was all about the money and what the ex could buy for her. When the money ran out, so did she. (You don’t actually find that out in Mr. Wimp, but we do in Mr. Kinky!)
These short, hilarious stories are told as about the men that Bella finds to date as she is reclaiming her life, herself, and her sexuality from the doldrums of her marriage and boring life with Mr. Wimpy.
Mr. Player tells us all about two guys actually. First we start with Liam. The rebound. Yep, he is just a tease. A guy that everyone knows is not Mr. Right just Mr. Right Now. Bella and Liam become friends. Then Bella takes a chance and enjoys a night with Liam. Knowing it is not forever or even long-term, Bella is okay about moving on when she joins a dating site and is matched with someone quickly. Liam is not super happy about ending the situationship early and even cautions that the new guy, Jack, is just a player.
Bella doesn’t heed the warning. That is exactly what Jack turns out to be and even worse, when he plays he is all about him and not about his date. Ugh. After that disaster, Bella decides to take a break and have a lovely weekend with the girls. While on the girls’ weekend, Bella is matched with a local hottie. They talk. Bella runs into Mr. Kinky at the bar that he owns when the ladies decide to head for a drink. The ladies relent and excuse Bella for a night to enjoy a date with Mr. Kinky. Mr. Kinky isn’t shy about sharing what he likes with Bella. He tells her straight out and gives her a chance to decide for herself about his kinks before pursuing anything further.
Bella does her research and takes a chance. New her and all. Despite a steamy night with Mr. Kinky, Bella realizes that she could not live the life full-time and has to walk away. Mr. Kinky understands but is disappointed. He leaves the door open for Bella, if she ever wants to spend the weekend tied up with him or changes her mind about a future together. When Bella returns home, she has a horrible run in with her ex, from which she is saved by Liam. Bella and Liam are really trying this whole friends after thing. We will see how it works.
Back on the dating site, Bella finds Ethan. Now Ethan starts off as a normal, nice guy. Not super kinky, no blatant sexual innuendos in his messaging, no moving too fast. Maybe someone if Bella was ready that she could settle down with. Bella was pretty sure she wasn’t ready. But maybe Ethan is just a little too nice? They start dating. No pressure for more. He slowly starts becoming possessive, hinting at something darker. After one date, Ethan is expecting more but Bella says no. Ethan doesn’t take the no well. Ethan calls her names and says she is lucky to have someone like him. Bella flips her lid and kicks him out.
Bella was not prepared for Ethan to be Mr. Heartless. Like the white knight he claims not to be, Liam comes swooping in to save Bella from Ethan. Their sitch picks up where it left off, friends with benefits?? Could this thing with Liam be more?? Out one night at the bar with the girls, Bella is confronted by Ethan. He did not like being turned down. He manages to get Bella alone in a dark corner of the bar and manhandles her. Luckily, one of Liam’s friends happens by and kicks Ethan’s butt and holds him until the cops arrive. Can’t wait for the next box set!!
These quick reads are funny but endearing. There are steam moments but it is about Bella reconnecting with who she was, who she is without Mr. Wimpy. I love Bella’s friends. They provide some humor and those oh so special girl moments with unsolicited advice that only your besties can give. I am so very ready for Mr. Rich!!!
Whispered Surrender by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I accidentally read books 2 and 3 first before realizing I hadn’t read book 1. But I felt like I wasn’t missing out while reading the other books. First things first, what really caught my eye was how aesthetically appealing the covers were, I absolutely love them. Sasha and Jay’s story was oh my goodness. I never really liked Sasha when I saw her in the authors other books, but now reading her story everything makes a lot more sense. There were still times where I wanted to slap the snot out of her, but she started to grow on me. However, in the second book Matt and Marenah I almost didn’t finish because first I felt like Marenah laid the mafia princess schtick on THICK, and it was starting to get on my nerves. But I’m glad I kept reading because the realization that she was just using it as a layer of defense made a whole lot of sense. Matt was such a great guy. Both males were absolutely fantastic and I giggled a little at the way they made me feel just reading about them!
Elusive Surrender by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The stories about these two couples in this book was wonderfully engaging. It had the perfect blend of spicy and story. The back and forth between the couples and their partners was great and I got a few chuckles in. Best friends Alexis and Allie have attracted a trafficker and things go down hill. In comes Sheldon and Nick. Sheldon got her a hairstyling gig at his boss’s job after seeing her nearly slap someone at a coffee shop. He is hooked line and sinker for Alexis. When an accident brings Alexis to Allie’s job as a nurse, Nick meets Allie when he came in with Alexis, and he too fell for her. These women are pretty stubborn and they don’t make life easy for Sheldon and Nick. The suspense was intense and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I can’t wait to read more!
Pursuit into Darkness by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is book two in the series and it starts shortly after the first book. It again starts with a little introduction to the book that Julia is writing about her past. I say shortly after but it is about 80 years which is short in vampire time. The group of vampires has come back to London after having to leave after the fight at the end of book one. There are still many of the original vampires so I only had to learn a few new vampires from the resistance group. Valentino’s men are searching for Samuel and Julia to kill them. Many of the resistance vampires are being attacked so they all come together to make a plan. There are so many twists and turns in this book. I feel like I’m following the story pretty well and then all of the sudden something happens that doesn’t make sense so I have to go back and reread. There are also times where I feel that the dialogue doesn’t flow well or there is not enough description. I will keep reading the series because this one ends and I need to know what happens next.
Shifter Shorts by T.K. Lawyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Shifter Shorts is a collection of love stories about different types of shifters. The stories are all fast paced and most have a happy ending. I liked the majority of the stories.
There was only one I did not enjoy which was “Release the Hellhound”. That one was too dark for my liking and did not have a happy ending. If you are triggered by SA, steer clear of this one.
My favourite story was “Gargoyle Mine”. The main character was a sweetheart always living in the shadow of her “hot” friend and found it hard to believe that love found her. That resonated with me since I always felt that way in highschool with my best friend.
I really enjoyed these stories, each one was different. Different personalities and characters, making it exciting all over again with each new story.
Savage Start by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a great teaser for the actual books. It’s crazy how the author can put so much passion and emotion in such a small package. This book leaves you wanting more but also satisfied with what you got too. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Betrayal of the Gods by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It has been a while since I have read the previous books in the series so I was excited to get my hands on the latest instalment. I found it so easy to reconnect with the characters. They are on another fantastic journey that was excited, action packed and honestly brilliant to read.
I think this book has to be my favourite in the series so far. It combines so many different elements and it feels like it keeps the book fresh and interesting. This book is full of twists and turns and I enjoyed every moment of it. I would highly recommend this book and the whole series.
Savage Start by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Isla Vaughn has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her Hidden Valley Elite series is by far one of the best Bully Romance series of books I’ve ever read, and this prequel is no different. Get to know some back story into characters you already know and love. This story had me in tears, angry, and just all over the place. You get the a beginning peek into the start of Riley and Cole in this emotional prequel. I absolutely cannot recommend this series or this author to enough people. She is amazingly talented and I am so enthralled with her world.
Review By
Manda Kelly
Song of Earth and Claws by Lena Abram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Praise for Lena Abram’s, Song Of Earth and Claws, for bringing a unique twist to a classic genre! I absolutely loved this book and the immense journey that it took me on! The characters all felt so real! I got so angry at some of them like they were right beside me. Lannahi was such a relatable character with her intense motives and the feelings brought about by her family. There were times where if I were her I would be so tempted to give up, but she never did and I found that inspiring. Abram’s created an immaculate world with so much detail, her kingdoms, her politics, her games, her twists and turns, all absolutely stunning. I can’t wait to see what else she has in store! My first favorite book for the year!
Savage Start by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Savage Start is a very short read and it does set up the backstory of Cole and Damon that’s mentioned throughout the series. The stories of each character are very intriguing and pull you in from the beginning. Throughout the prequel, I saw the story unfold like a movie playing in my head. I saw all the details and can relate to each emotion that the characters felt.
Savage Start by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This prequel gives you an insight into who the players are and why they are the way they are for future reads. In this edition, you will meet Cole and Riley. Riley is a girl who is always on the run with her mother. They have created a life of conning people and moving to the next town apparently to escape her father finding them. They end up in Santa Monica with a new aspect of going straight and staying, but Riley will believe it when she sees it. While walking, she stumbles upon a house party where she sneaks into and tries to steal something. She gets caught by Cole and ends up running out of the house after he kisses her. Cole is an elite teenager who plans on football giving him his future. He and his brother, while privileged, are dealing with their parents who have a loveless marriage. As the story goes on, Cole, who is a momma’s boy, is always consoling his distraught mother. In the book, the two main characters never run back into each other, but the circumstances of each of their stories seem to be foreshadowing how their relationship will go once they do.
I am a fan of a bully romance. You are not going to get the bully aspect in this short story, but it sets the scene for why (I believe it will be Cole) becomes a bully. I enjoy both characters with the little we learned about them. I also feel sympathy for Cole and the situation at home. I am excited to see what aspires between the two and how the series will progress.
The Round Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is another cute book by Lois Wickstrom. The illustrations are nice and colorful. When her family is busy Carrie finds something unusual. My son rocked like he was on a stormy sea while we read. He plans on asking his grandma where her fascinator is.
Deja Brew All Over Again: A Runaway Bride Romance by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A good story but not my favorite of the series. This is a runaway bride story and the meet cute is exactly what I expected. From there it gets interesting. I really enjoy this family and all the extenders that come with it. The fun this family has together is what everyone wants their family to be. I liked the wonder and freshness that Bear brought to the equation.
My major concern or dislike about the story is maturity. Miller is a guy who gets into trouble even unintentionally so I expected a lot of hijinks in this one. It was pretty tame on that front. I almost wish this was set a few years later so Miller would be older and 22 and be ready to settle. He just seemed so wild then to drop like a fly is just weird. Now Maisy is even younger than Miller. The difference is she has had to be “older” her entire life. Between piano and Bear she needed to always be the more mature than a normal 20 yo. So with her I get the whole “found the one”.
Overall this is a good story and nice addition while setting up Lynn’s storyline. But the answer to the question of “Where is Larry?” will haunt me
Deja Brew All Over Again: A Runaway Bride Romance by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was a quick easy read for me. I couldn’t put it down. I love a good runaway bride story. However, I was not expecting to like Miller as much as I did. He has the bad guy persona down but is really a great guy. I love those types of characters. This book made me laugh because how can you not when a girl in a wedding dress jumps into some strangers car. This is book three of the series and I have not read the others but I am going to go and read them because I feel like it will give me more character depth. That being said you can pick this book up and read it, no problems. I bet you will want to go back and read the rest of the series as well because if this book is that good the others have to be just as good. If you are looking for something that is sweet, romantic, funny, has a bit of family drama, and is just a quick read. This book is for you.
Reviewed by: @bbohls
