What Loretta’s Katydid did by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What Loretta’s Katydid Did
by Lois Wickstrom
This is a cute book, Loretta’s Grammie Stella got her an orange tree, it had some insects on it and she learned about som of them and how they were helpful to the tree.
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a new author to me….reading the snyposis and seeing the intriguing cover I decided to dive right in. This audiobook was fantastic and fun to listen to…full of magic, witches, crime, demons and a some romance.
Gwen heads back to her hometown of Hoodoo, Texas and upon her return…mysterious murders come with. With all fingers point to Gwen, will she be able to prove her innocence?
I love Gwen’s character of being strong, independent and love her being middle aged with all the parts that go with it ♥️. I did not realize there is a prequel so I will be definitely circling back to listen to the prequel as well and I am already looking forward to book 2. The narrator was absolutely perfect for this story as well.
The Romanov Heiress by Jennifer Laam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was absolutely phenomenal. Learning Russian history, especially the tragic story of the Romanov family has always gotten my interest. Reading from a different perspective of the family was eye-opening. Following the story of Olga and her sisters was absolutely heartbreaking. Doing everything she can to keep them safe while trying to clear her mother’s name she meets a young lord that she is employed to as Olivia. The feelings are there but things become very complicated. The story makes you feel all of the feels and all of the heartbreak. I loved reading this book and will add it to my ever growing library!
Destiny of Light: Final Book in Quirk of Destiny Trilogy by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Calum O’Connell is back again, they are getting back to something like normal in Gallanvaig, they are back to their sustainable and simple way of life and thankful that they are still all together after having just overcome the last lot of hurdles which changed life as they knew it all over again, when the “Genies” came and caused havoc for their friends and families. This was as well as trying to keep out of harms way thanks to a dissonance in their lifestyles and those of others living in this apocalyptic world, where barriers were erected and had to be overcome by the small group.
While they were fighting for their lives, the “Genies” were growing in both strength and numbers, their powers increasing and becoming more and more deadly with each passing day as they continue to eat the genetically modified foods and recruit others to do the same and join their evil ranks. Another group were also fighting against them from the shadows, wanting to eliminate anyone standing in the way of their new world order, be they survivors or “Genies” and causing a restrictive way of life to be adopted by forcing everyone to obey.
Between the “Genies” and the shadowy Elite, Calum and his group are struggling to survive and avoid the pitfalls and hurdles placed into their path by those around them, but they still have hope that they can prevail with the help of others around the world, but with death and destruction all around them, can they really stop the forces of evil and convince everyone else to re-adopt their way of life, or will evil triumph after all and create a new world order thriving on violence and mistreatment? This is another informative and well researched glimpse into a possible future with apocalyptic consequences to current issues, written in a way which provokes conversations and debates while coupling it with a dystopian race against time, which is fraught with danger from everywhere all at once which you will not want to miss out on.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
Return to Gallanvaig: Beyond A Quirk of Destiny by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Calum O’Connell returns in this dystopian tale of how genetically modified (GM) food has caused an apocalyptic level event, which has wiped out most of the humans living on the planet, but not just that, some of the survivors have become altered at a genetic level. The not so affectionately named “Genies” have become something superhuman and have shown abilities beyond human, this is as well as becoming emotionally and physically unstable, they have been attacking, enslaving, or even killing people in their madness.
Since we last saw Calum, two years have passed since the first wave of this apocalypse occurred and life has somewhat settled down in the small coastal town of Gallanvaig, the group have been helping the world recover and creating guidelines to live by which are both sustainable and more natural, but nothing good can last and things are about to take a turn for the worse again and danger will come for this small community.
Meanwhile, the evil “Genie” leader, Balthazar has been growing in strength and developing his paranormal powers while planning his next wave of attacks against the GM free survivors who foiled his last one, but even though it is personal, there is a crucial element of survival which the “Genies” cannot seem to succeed at and this is his main goal, to find a way around it. There is also a shadow group who have been sowing the seeds of their own plans throughout the surviving colonies around the world, but they are more politically motivated, however, just as ruthless as Balthazar in their methods.
Will Calum and his band of survivors be able to stop Balthazar in his tracks again, while also entering a political battle on their other front? Will this battle between good and evil ever stop and a new normal created, or will the world return to how it was before the GM tragedy occurred? This is a dystopian sci-fi adventure which hits close to home, while also teaching lessons in an informative and creative way with plenty of twists, turns and action throughout to keep you hooked and wanting to know what happens in the end.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50722653-destiny-of-light” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Destiny of Light (Quirk of Destiny, #3)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601379148l/50722653._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50722653-destiny-of-light”>Destiny of Light</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4044828.Catherine_Greenall”>Catherine Greenall</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5453747172″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
In the third and final installment of the Quirk of Destiny Trilogy the reader is immediately clued in on the protagonist, Calum, potentially loosing someone he loves dearly. Not just Calum, but the rest of the world loosing someone they love due to these environmental anomalies. This is a multiple point-of-view read as well, which did busy up the read a bit for me. Overall I enjoyed the concepts and themes that the author incorporated; the elite with their power, genetically modified foods to control the population, and what happens to humans when the world is ending.
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/44107748-emily”>View all my reviews</a>
Savage Lies: A High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Savage Lies by Isla Vaughn is the first book in the Hidden Valley Elite series, following the prequel Savage Start. In this story, it picks up where some time has passed since Cole and Damon lost their mother. They blame their father and his inability to be faithful to their mother for her taking her life. But when Cole finds out who his father is seeing and connects the dots to Riley’s mother, he decides to make it his mission to run Riley and her mother off. The tension between Cole and Riley is fierce as they toy with each other and it is so gripping, it was hard to put this book down. I am anticipating diving right into the second book next to see where it goes next.
His Forever Muse by C.R. Alam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book has so much more going on than I expected and I really enjoyed it. This book is even better than the first one and I was drawn in to the story right from the start. Callie and her past definitely intrigued me and I thought the fit of her and Brandon was done really well. I wanted to know more about both of them and enjoyed the discovery as the book developed.
I think the author has created a strong series and I am looking forward to the next book. I want to see what else is to come and will be reading more of her work in the future.
Braving Lily by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is the latest in the series and is a great addition. I loved the two main characters and the chemistry between them. On paper, they really shouldn’t have worked so well and yet you could not deny the pull between them. I thought the story suited them perfectly and I wanted to see how things would turn out.
This is still a relatively new author to me and I have really enjoyed getting familiar with her writing style. The pacing of her books is good and I find myself connecting with the storylines with ease. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her work.
Destiny of Light by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the final book of the trilogy. It was just as great as the other two. With humans declining because of genetically modified food, the Genies step forward. They are a group that has special powers, but try to pass as normal humans. Calum does his best to help everyone that’s left recreate the world that they had lost. Can he save Earth and everyone else before it’s too late?
The Romanov Heiress by Jennifer Laam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Romanov Heiress
By: Jennifer Laam
Review by: Susan Ratchford
5 Stars
The Romanov Heiress is a whimsical telling of what could have been! A heart wrenching tale of the sisters’ escape and beyond through the eyes of the oldest sister Olga. With intricately weaved secrets and almost mystery about their German Princess mother Alexandra. I was completely encapsulated by this work of historical fiction and could not stop reading! Jennifer Laam uses beautiful language that transports you to another time and vivid imagery that lets you feel everything, including the danger, uncertainty, and fear the sisters face. I relate a lot to Anastasia being the youngest in my family and I specifically enjoyed watching her growth, as well as Olga’s growth throughout the book. I am obsessed with Laam’s style and I will definitely be picking up more of her books! I highly recommend this book to all lovers of historical fiction or just wonderful reads!
Your Trainer Says Hi! by Indie Sparks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this story once i was able to feel like I understood more of who and what was happening. This starts off very quickly which was a great attention grabber but I almost felt like I was missing something to start off with but maybe it was just me at the time of reading.
After about a chapter I was hooked and really loved our main character Nadine. She’s got an attitude but also tough on herself and I felt that we had that in common.
This really had all a romance story needed and more, it had a bit of it all. I loved her best friend and Wick really won me over with the little bits and pieces we learn of him on a personal level. He really tried to be Nadine’s balance.
Destiny of Light: Final Book in Quirk of Destiny Trilogy by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Destiny of Light is the third, and final, book in the Quirk of Destiny series. It tells a dark story of the destruction and devastation caused by the introduction of genetically modified foods. This has caused humans to perish, animals to mutate, and the world be to left in an apocalyptic state. It continues the story from books one and two and builds on them, so I highly recommend reading those books first or the story will be hard to follow.
Scientist Calum continues to struggle to survive along with a few others as the devastation unfolds around the world. Divided into small groups they attempt to survive on their own while building a sustainable lifestyle and growing their own food. Around the world death and destruction unfold as the human race is being killed off at an alarming rate. Having contaminated drinking water was one of their biggest concerns until animals started to mutate into pre-historic, blood-thirsty beasts. The world is in total chaos as the Genies with their paranormal powers, and the dark and sinister Elite, battle to take over the world. Will Calum and his friends have what it takes to survive death and destruction of biblical proportions?
This book started off with a bang and was fast paced throughout. The author takes the reader into a journey where the world has been ravaged and destroyed by the introduction of genetically modified foods. A world in which mutants are taking over, water is contaminated, and food is scarce. A world in which the human population is dying off at alarming rates. This book is full of action, suspense, mystery, tension, death, destruction, and mutants. It is good versus evil on a grand, no-holds barred, fight to the finish. A haunting tale of the very real possibilities of a future where genetically modified foods have been allowed to take over the world’s food supply.
Return to Hoodoo: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel by Reggi Dupree
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Return to Hoodoo is a wild ride. Gwen returns home to deal with her family. And of course, the whole town, which is filled with magical creatures. I wasn’t expecting to love the book as much as I did and cannot wait until there are more books. If you’re a fan of family drama and the supernatural, then this is the book for you.
Destiny of Light by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the third and final book in the Quirk of Destiny Trilogy. This story has been a great read from the first book to the last. The author writes in a way that makes the events of the story scarily realistic which as a reader definately makes you worry and think about what you would do if you were in this situation.
In this story we have Genies who are evil trying to destroy the world, the Elites who have magical powers and the remaining human survivors trying to survive day to day.
I would definately recommend reading these books in order to fully appreciate the story. This final installment is just as action packed as the other two with everyone fighting for survival. There is a strong theme of good vs evil running through this story and we finally get to understand who the Elite people are and what role they played in the contamination to the world’s food supply.
As Calum and the fellow survivors try to find other people like themselves they have barriers placed in their way from both the Elite( powerful and evil people) and the Genies (people who were changed by the modified and corrupted food) neither of which want him to succeed. With so much loss that has happened in this post apocalyptic world can Calum and his fellow survivors continue to survive or will it just been too much for them as the Elite and Genies get stronger.
This story is action packed and full of danger. Can Calum and his friends uncover the conspiracies and stop the world being destroyed even more or are the powers they are against just too strong for them to overcome.
This is a great read which really gets you thinking about our currently life’s and how easy it would be to fall into a similar situation that Calum and his friends are in if the powers that be become too powerful for their own good.
The Silent Road by S.N. McKibben
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book took me down a turn I didn’t even imagine when I started reading it. At the beginning we meet Dan who has an ex-wife that shoulders all the disappointment in him and a daughter who thinks he hangs the moon but may not actually show up for her due to his job. He happens to be a long haul trucker that gets pulled over by a state trooper and detained for driving without a cdl. After his boss bails him out of jail he gives him no other option to drive than with an instructor, namely Jake, the person he definitely does not want to be around. However, Dan has no choice if he wants to raise the money for his daughter’s tuition for college.
As we follow Dan and Jake you can feel the sexual tension rise in the air from both of them which Dan is having a hard time with because he has only been with women so why is Jake tearing his insides up this badly? After a short while he cannot take it anymore, he decides to test out the waters with rules just to get it out of his system. Unfortunately, once isn’t enough and Dan is left questioning everything about himself and what he wants in his future. After seeing the trials that Jake goes through can Dan open himself up to that same ridicule? What happens when this one long haul is over after Dan gets his cdl? Can Dan and Jake ever find what they are looking for? Will Dan be able to change his image in his daughter’s mind of the man that never shows up to the one that provides her the college experience she deserves?
I have never read a man on man romance novel before, especially one filled with so many erotic scenes. However, I felt myself coming back to this book repeatedly just to see what happened next. This book is definitely not for the faint of heart and if I hadn’t given it a fair shot despite some reservations that I would have definitely missed out on a beautifully written book detailing just how hard it is to be homosexual in certain professions. I am glad I gave this book a shot and if more are forthcoming then I’ll read those as well!
Under My Care by R.L. Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don’t know how these characters survive until the next book!! Between the non-stop action and all the medical drama, it is surprising that there are enough people for the next book. It is great. Don’t get me wrong. It is nice to see, especially in a book, that even highly trained operators get injured or hurt, but daaaaaannnnng!! The human body can only take so much.
Once again I find myself caught up in the characters and the drama of The Chase Care Group. My hat goes off to the doctors, nurses, and all medical professionals that actually live the rural medicine thing. They are a vital part of the community. So this mission has the operators, led by the soon-to-be president of Chase Care Group Peter Walter, rescuing a mother and her young daughter during a blizzard in rural Montana. When Pete and his group arrive on scene, the bad guys have already taken the mom out of the equation, leaving the little girl, Linde, in danger. After rescuing Linde from a burning building, Pete and Linde are in need of medical care. Their helicopter makes an emergency landing at the nearest hospital.
The nearest hospital has a couple of things going for it, it is close and it is open. When the patients arrive Pete finds himself looking into the eyes of the woman he could never forget, Dr. Rowena. The storm has brought a few other patients into the hospital including Matilda, a very sick young girl that just happens to be the daughter of the bad guy. Chaos, the storm, drama, and medical hijinks ensue! The action never stops. This is my second in the series and I have determined that they are a combination ER plus Lethal Weapon. Be sure to bring your cast lists from previous books. There might be some additions!!
Fantastic read. I found the action, the medical drama, and the couple of steamy scenes thrilling!! Suspense fans will like this one. Medical drama fans will like this one. Romance fans will like this one. There are some sensitive topics addressed. Be sure to mind the trigger warnings. Overall, a great read!
A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
At the start of this book I wasn’t exactly sure how I felt about it. It was a little confusing in the beginning and moved rather slowly at first. However, once you get past that it took on a much more pleasant pace that kept me reading on for more.
We start meeting Princess Zarina who at the beginning I really did not like her at all. Yet, this is her journey into finding herself and discovering strengths she never knew existed. It is about falling flat on her face and coming to realize she doesn’t exactly like the person she is. Knowing she must change to save her people and her kingdom we find heart in her that her kingdom needs. There are so many twists and turns in this book that at times it feels like you might be lost in a maze but definitely keep reading because when the proverbial shoe drops everyone’s eyes open and you begin to understand the path Zarina was set upon. The only thing we need to know is can she save her kingdom or are they doomed to the same fate as her Aunt’s kingdom was? What happens when those closest to you aren’t what they seem?
This almost seems like a coming of age book, a book about growing into the person you are meant to become through the trials and tribulations that life throws at you. It was refreshing to see a book with this much growth in the main character. If you like fairy tales with a lot more growth and heart in them then this book is definitely for you. Definitely a great beach read, something that will keep you coming back just to find out more.
Savage Lies: A High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is my first book by this author and it was a little on the fast side for me. It was still really good. I like enemies to lovers books and this is one of my new favorite series. I just finished it and enjoyed the characters and the story. I am definitely starting the next book right away.
His Forever Muse by C.R. Alam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Where do I start? This novel is just as good as the first! The author does such an amazing job of bringing these characters to life. Brandon and Callie are best friends that lost connection and are brought together by fate. The lack of judgement that Brandon has toward Callie is outstanding and I believe he should be the standard for all men to look up to. He is not perfect by any means, but I absolutely love his character.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series. The writing is phenomenal and so easy to sink your teeth into. If the characters and plot are anything like the first two novels, then it will take me no time to read the third. Highly recommend! Super cozy novel with some action and suspense tied in.
Review by @aware
View all my reviews
The Traveler: Book 3 by Deborah Dugan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the third book in this series which I enjoyed just as much as the previous two books. I highly suggest reading the previous books in this series to help your enhancement of this series and to see where the characters have been up to now. I found this book to be well written and hard to put down. I enjoyed seeing Harry on another adventure and the danger he put himself into. He is such a great strong character, he made the story for me. This is an easy and entertaining story to read. You are pulled into the story by the author’s use of details that made it more realistic. You don’t want to miss this series. I highly recommend this book.
Review by @bjwagner
Falling for You by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Having read Falling Home I couldn’t wait to catch up with Max and Ginny and their wedding planning but I was even more curious as to CeCe and her “ secret” and of course the budding relationship between her and Evan 🫶🏼
It’s competition time in …….. and our little diner team can win this hands down ! Finally we get a little more insight into CeeCee and her reservations about Evan but she can’t resist him and his charms I mean hello the guy is as real as they can get and any girl would thank her lucky stars to catch a gem like him ❣️
Evan really comes from a rather nasty family and my heart broke for him but also burst with pride because he’s such a good soul and it could’ve been easy to be bitter but instead he goes for what he wants and does himself proud 🥰
The source of CeeCee’s anxiety gets what he deserves and I did a little happy jig ! There was so much to love about this book and the people just climb into you heart and you get so invested in them and their stories 🥰 that’s my favourite part of being a bibliophile, all the friends I make along the journey between the pages ❣️📚
I was rolling in laughter for most of the book. I full on cringed, and oohed and awed too. The details and the attitudes of the characters, especially Gwen were fantastic, and the narrator did an amazing job portraying the story!!
Savage Lies: A High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a fantastic enemies-to-lovers, new adult high school bully romance this one was! Isla Vaughn is a new writer for me, and I’m so thrilled that I discovered her.
Cole and Riley come from two completely different worlds. Cole comes from a privileged world, and Riley has been running most of her life with her mother. Now, their two worlds collide when they discover their parents are together. Riley is soon plunged into Cole’s world. She isn’t happy about it, and Cole most certainly isn’t. A kiss they shared in the past makes Cole dislike her even more. He has plans to destroy her and make her and her mother disappear from his life. Too bad he can’t turn his hidden desire for her off though! Riley has those same feelings for him too. Both have secrets they want to stay hidden which makes things even more complicated.
While the book is in the genre of enemies to lovers and a high school bully romance, there is also an air of suspense!!! The angst and chemistry between these two is off the charts which makes for great reading!
This is just the first book in the series, and it’s already so good! It does end in a cliffhanger, and boy what a cliffhanger it is! I know a lot of readers hate cliffhangers, but I love them! I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Ocean’s Three by Elena Kincaid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Reed and Cameron are cousins and two share a dream in which they meet and interact with Jocelyn, a girl they have never met. Every night, the three meet in their dreams and they all become close. Tragedy strikes Jocelyn and she begins to push them away.
I don’t usually read ménage a trois but the plot of this caught my attention.
I enjoyed reading this and getting to know the characters and how Reed and Cameron want to be there for Jocelyn, even as she runs from them and her feelings.
This is short but it packs a lot of emotions and conflict. I am a sucker when it comes to paranormal aspects.
Braving Lily by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story follows Lily, a rockstar known for leading the band The Brightside, and Rhys, a ‘normal’ IT guy who she’s set up on a date with. They’re complete opposites and both think there’s no chance they could get along, but apparently, opposites attract. They fall in love, but will those differences come in between them? My favourite character is Lily because she’s a badass rockstar and also a sweetheart, and my least favourite character is Sherry for breaking poor Rhys’ heart. I recommend this book because it’s a beautiful opposites-attract romance, a pure love story where two people meet unconventionally, think they have nothing in common but it turns out they have unbelievable chemistry. I think I’ll have to read the rest of Morgana Bevan’s work! ‘And I knew, no matter how our brief time ended, I would always cherish our stolen moments together.’
Destiny of Light by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
Destiny of Light (Quirk of Destiny Book 3) by Catherine Greenall
Destiny of Light is the final book in the Quirk of Destiny Trilogy. Wow what a finale. I highly recommend reading this Trilogy in order as each book helps you learn more about the characters and what has been going on in each previous book leading up to this one. This is a Post Apocalyptic Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller that is packed with action and so much more. The twists and turns had me turning the pages trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Get ready for the Ultimate showdown between Calum and his Allies as they battle the Genie Mutants and the Elite. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. I look forward to reading more from this Author.
Savage Lies: A High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love a good dark bully romance, and this did not disappoint. Definitely a favorite trope for me, I cannot wait to read more from this series! Cole is a true savage and has plans for Riley, but Riley isn’t so sweet and innocent herself. She knows a thing or two about life and conning someone, will they each meet their match in the other? Possibly, but you should indeed read this to find out!
Streets of Shadow by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
After discovering poison in her sister’s room at the time of her death, Kenna’s life changes drastically. Without knowing for certain who or what is behind her capture and imprisonment in a filthy alleyway, she finds herself outcast and hunted down by watchmen. I loved this book and was wrapped up in Kenna’s story all the way to the twisted end.
Savage Lies: A High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
Savage Lies is the second book in the Hidden Valley Elite series by Isla Vaughn. It is a New Adult (High School) enemies-to-lovers “bully” romance with plenty of angsty drama, family dynamics, darker themes that may be triggers for some readers, emotion, and more.
I highly recommend reading the prequel, Savage Start, before starting on this book as the story foundations begin there, as well as character introductions, and other ‘groundwork’ which knowing will help you better understand what happens in this book.
As we discovered in the prequel, The ‘Elites’ are the top of the food chain at Hidden Valley Elite high school. They are brothers Cole and Damon and their cousins, twin brothers Phoenix and Shane. They are the football stars of school, and every girls dream- and they know it. It has been a year since the events in ‘Savage Start’, and Riley is back in town and enrolled at Hidden Valley. Soon sparks fly and personalities clash. Things are about to get interesting. But this isn’t a ‘light and fluffy’ read, be warned, the author takes a bit of a darker turn here which may be challenging for some.
I am glad this book was ‘meatier’ than the prequel, as I was able to really immerse in the story and begin to invest in the character/s and developments- which I hadn’t been able to do in the prequel. I am so ready for the next instalment.
Cole and Riley’s story started in the prequel and resumes here, concluding in “Savage Truth” (Book #2). Each of the elites are set to get their own book/s as well, making for a longer series to sink our teeth into.
Bring it on!
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Isla Vaughn!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
