Lucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story was super cute! I read it to my 5yo son and he loved it. The illustrations are so beautiful. I love the extras at the end of the book! What a great bonus! I love the little twist at the end as well.
Revenge Honeymoon by K.J. Gillenwater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ruby gets left at the altar and her best friend Emily suggests they take the honeymoon cruise anyway since it is already paid for and it will give them some time away.
This book is fun and funny. There are some points when you really want Emily to just get past her insecurities, but being the “unattractive friend” as well, I totally get her point of view. I do enjoy how she starts taking over her insecurities though. I really liked her dynamic with Max.
Fun book that will keep you turning pages just to see what happens next.
The Rom Com Movie Club – Book One by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I just had such a great time reading this wonderful book that I binged it in a day! It left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. Filled with wonderful characters, a fantastic storyline and fun witty moments it is a feel good book you just have to read! I so can’t wait for more. I want a Rom Com Movie Club of my own!!!!
This book brings us the story of Lisa and Ryan whose attraction and more importantly connection is immediate and so strong. With emotional scars to deal with and drama from friends it is a captivating ride to a happy ending.
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4.5 Stars
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom is a chapter storybook for children 7 – 12 years-old. It is a wonderful little fantasy with shifters, magic, adventure, action, drama, self-discovery, and some suspense.
This is something a little different from Ms. Wickstrom, as it is the first children’s chapter book that I have seen of hers. I was immediately drawn to the beautiful cover, and as my eldest grandson is old enough now to appreciate chapter books, I grabbed a copy for us to explore together.
Gwendolyn is a dream-shifter who is able to become any animal she dreams about, changing back into a girl when she wakens. But what happens when she is startled awake one night after dreaming of being an elk, only to find that she hasn’t changed back into a girl and is stuck in elk form…. AND it is hunting season. Oh No! Will she find a way to turn back into a girl? Can she stay safe and out of the crosshairs of the hunters? What happens definitely makes for a fun read.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Lois Wickstrom!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35889561-a-love-restrained” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”A Love Restrained (Philly Heat series, #1)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504849107l/35889561._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35889561-a-love-restrained”>A Love Restrained</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4826956.Becky_Flade”>Becky Flade</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5080207137″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Jayson Donovan thinks that he is not good enough for Kylee Parker. They have known each since they were young. Kylee Parker arrested Jayson because he was a drug dealer. You will have to read the rest of the book to see what happens. I can’t wait to read more from this author.<br />
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/40000500-lacy-mercado”>View all my reviews</a>
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62684696-yesterday-s-over” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Yesterday’s Over (Philly Heat series, #3)” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1663864780l/62684696._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62684696-yesterday-s-over”>Yesterday’s Over</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4826956.Becky_Flade”>Becky Flade</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5080282998″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This dark story. Different story line. I can’t wait to read more from this author. Trudy and Ben are working on a case together and are getting too close to each other. You have read the rest of the book to see what happens.<br />
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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/40000500-lacy-mercado”>View all my reviews</a>
Glass Houses by Sinister Styx
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
Glass Houses is a devilishly intriguing short and dark paranormal novella by Sinister Styx. This little tale might be short in pages, but it packs the punch of a much longer novel. It is cleverly woven to capture the reader’s attention right from the get-go with a mysterious vibe that permeates the entire story. The mystery and suspense pull you further and further into the story as you try and figure out what is going on.
This is quite a surprising little package- with all the dark and moody tension- as well as the intriguing aspects of the mystery…. But it is also very much more than it appears at first- and the revelation definitely comes as a surprise. Very cleverly done…
The writing, scene-setting, and storytelling is very rich, imaginative, and vividly descriptive. The author has woven a lot into a small package, but skilfully choreographs everything into quite an enthralling read.
Mix a toxic relationship with suspicion, doubt, mistrust, ego, pride, and tension- then sprinkle in some manipulation, violence, jealousy, suspense, curses, spice, revenge, and a touch of the paranormal…. and we get a riveting little treat from this polished storyteller.
Can’t wait to see what comes next…
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Sinister Styx!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
A Christmas to Remember: An Anthology from 5 Prince Publishing by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love Christmas. I love a HEA. I love dogs and cats. What could be better than an anthology that combines all three? Nothing. The stories are fun and heartwarming, challenging and thought provoking, and they all paint the pictures of the season so well. These stories are quick enough to read again and again. I love that the stories are compiled like this, and each story is better than the one before. It is the perfect way to get in the mood for the holidays.
Lucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A fun and interesting story. Two young sisters eager to know what their cat is up to in the night attach a camera to his collar. They imagine many scenarios about the woods and the inhabitants, and the sisters are surprised by what they find. This book is a cute and fast read with nice illustrations. I like that there are some activities included at the end as well as some ideas to help foster conversation and thoughts with the little ones.
The Final Bite by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have loved every book that I have read by this author! Every 10 years a dead supernatural being is brought back from the dead and must take a mate. The only problem is they only have 3 days. Quinnlan is faced with the ultimate choice: bite a dying man and mark him as his mate to save his life but if he is rejected he goes back to purgatory. Excellent book!!!
Glass Houses by Sinister Styx
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
OMG! Such a tragic twisted jealous mess. Poor Ivy breaks my heart but it was also a great short story and I loved it.
Order of Vespers by Matilda Reyes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jasper is the main suspect in a case about an explosion and the murderer of her own family. Jasper possesses supernatural power that she can’t control. Great story with unexpected aspects. Loved it!
Spidersight by Tirzah M.M. Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I can’t believe I read this book due to my own arachnophobia. The point of view from the spider, Fred, is interesting and makes a unique character. Compassionate almost, and yet part monster that one would expect from a vampire longing to feed off of a chosen victim. Missy’s POV, shows the childlike innocence for a five year old and her favorite animal the spider (even though a spider isn’t an animal). If adults could see the size of Fred they would freak out. I know it made my skin crawl! It’s a highly unique imaginary friend to have. She’s a spunky kindergartener with a special friend. The story gets better from there and great plot for a story!
Review by @bilberrysweet
Brandy Vaughn, November 2022
See all my reviews
The Final Bite by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This author never disappoints! This quick paranormal romance has a little of everything and I love that you get a back story and an epilogue! Quinnlan just wants to get a second chance at life but only three days to find a mate seems impossible to say the least. Garrett just wants to save his mom before its too late. Can a chance meeting save them both? Tensions rise and quick decisions have to be made. This is a great quick read!
Dwarves’ Dilemma, The by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Queen Mabel is regarded as the fairest in the Kingdom of Aleta. She judges fairness by using a mirror to see if the eyes of those asking for a ruling had the Sparkle of Fairness. Several people come to the Queen to see if she thinks certain situations are fair or not. One day, the Queen defers to Snow White, who is sent out to investigate the dilemma that the dwarves are having with Pippa. Snow White makes a discovery that alarms Queen Mabel. She vows from that day forward to make some corrections!
This is a super cute book that focuses on the science of mirrors, as well as the moral trait of fairness. The illustrations are very well done and young readers will recognize some of the characters from more popular fairy tales. Not to mention, there is a dragon! Another great read by this author!
Glass Houses by Sinister Styx
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was definitely an interesting read. I’m hoping there is more to come, or another, longer, book added, because for only 20 pages I’m VERY intrigued and definitely wanting to read more. How this author managed to pack 20 pages with a whole story is beyond me. This author really did nail it. This book is definitely dark and may contain a few trigger warnings. I can’t wait to (hopefully) read more!
Shadow and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Shadow & Crystal Thorns picks up right where book 1 left off. I really like this series and can’t wait for book 3! The author has created a beautiful world. I’ve read other Fae books and I thoroughly enjoy the world of Faerie the author has created.
We find ourselves back into Chloe’s nightmare. Trying to save the human realm from sickness and now battling the human’s in Faerie where she lost her foot. Quintus doing everything in his power to help her succeed. What was realized in book 1 was to save the human realm, Faerie needs to be healed. Unfortunately they need to rebuild.
Chloe and Quintus seem to feel differently. with her sister being the High Queen of the different places in Faerie Chloe would never go against her word. It doesn’t help that Chloe freezes up in fear whenever she’s in a high anxiety situation. Because of that nobody trusts her ideas. Claiming she doesn’t really want to help.
How could she do anything on her own?
Is she able to keep her lack of foot hidden from her sister?
Mishti’s influence on Chloe could lead her in the right/wrong direction. Right because they could succeed in the task of healing the land and stopping the humans. Wrong because she would be defying her sister.
Can Mishti be trusted?
What about Quintus and Chloe?
I don’t know why Chloe is so against giving him a chance. I get it she’s mortal and won’t live forever but he doesn’t care. He’d rather be with her, the development between these two takes us in both directions.
So many questions and so many answers. I’m not sure how much I should disclose that won’t cause spoilers. This story/series is wonderful. If you like books about Fae and are just coming across this book, please read book 1 first. If you’ve read book 1 it’s now time to continue into book 2.
If you’re like me and didn’t like how book 1 ended the author redeemed it but picked up where book 1 left off. So worth it! Again I’ll reiterate I can’t wait till book 3!
Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a riveting tale of justice, forgiveness, and how old wounds affect us more than we know. As someone who loves history, sometimes it’s easy to forget that people were part of making that history and that their lives were impacted so deeply from it. This book follows the story of two Vietnam vets and their children, and does a great job of showing the cost of generational wounds. I absolutely loved this book, it sucked me in and pulled me under and I just couldn’t put it down. I look forward to reading more books by this author!
Soliloquy by Janet Fogg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This beautiful novel reads like a well-mastered symphony. I was intrigued by the first page and could hardly put this one down!
Erin’s aunt recently passed and she and her sister have inherited her wealthy estate. One day, a young man comes to Erin to deliver a box. Erin thinking that she’s already received everything is very perplexed….even more so when she opens the box to find very beautiful dolls inside. What could her aunt have possibly meant by leaving these dolls behind? There is a note and Erin is still rather confounded by these dolls but soon, she’ll be on an adventure that could change her life.
When one of the dolls falls and smashes to smithereens, Erin finds herself in another place and time. A place of danger, toil, confusion, love, and forgiveness. Erin’s a prisoner but only so her friends can survive. She’s willing to try to meet the demands of the Oberst but not willing to give up her beloved Soliloquy…or is she? Can Erin find her way back home where she belongs? What about those she might leave behind?
Arick is a pilot who’s shot down that Erin and her friends come across. Do they take the chance to harbor him, knowing that if they’re found out, they’ll all be gone or do they send him on his way, injured and possibly without hope? What can Arick do to help this family, if anything? What about the fact that Erin feels like he should know her? So many beautiful angles here!
This is a new-to-me author and I’m hoping for a sequel to this book. I believe a door may have been left open for another story! The things that Erin experiences in this story are pretty realistic during that time frame of WWII. I enjoy reading these period pieces and this one has a time travel aspect to it as well.
Glass Houses by Sinister Styx
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A short story about a pair of lovers who accuse each other of being unfaithful. The guilt each feels leads to their demise. One accidently kills the other and then takes their own life.
More Than by Diane Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really good book! It was a little difficult to get into at the beginning, but I’m glad I persisted and stuck it out because it was a really good story. It is inspiring, and is pretty motivating as well. I wish there wouldn’t have been such a big focus on weight but I guess if there wasn’t then this wouldn’t be a book! This is my first book from this author and I’m excited to read more in the future!
WE Blend by Willa Drew
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a beautiful story. Seeing into El and Wil both just kept me completely captivated. I just kept pretty much yelling at Wil to just tell her already, but they kept getting closer with so many perfect moments for him to have said something. The emphasis on music for both El and Wil just makes so much sense for me because I firmly believe music is the universal language and can speak for you when you don’t have the words. The lyrics they write together are so beautiful and I just wish that I could hear the instruments, the melodies and harmonies, blending together to create magic. I also feel like El’s relationships with her parents was so relatable, like something we all understand, knowing our family expects something specific from us, but that’s not our dream. I also truly adored her relationship with Zoe, having a true confidant is so important to not feel completely alone, but also to have someone who will just cheer you on as you take steps to follow your dream. The entire story just sucked me in from the very beginning, and I was cheering for both El and Wil through their whole journey.
Pardon Me, Please by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Albert is a turkey on a turkey farm and it’s November. He’s becoming very concerned that all the people looking him over see him as food and not a pet. Albert would love to live a long healthy life making people happy but not on the dinner table! Then, Albert sees some hope. The President has just pardoned a turkey and wished him a long life. Maybe, just maybe, Albert can be pardoned too!!
This is a super cute book that is very timely! It discusses how turkeys are traditionally eaten at Thanksgiving, which gives the reader and opportunity to discuss with others or think for themselves about other options for a meal besides turkey. It also discusses voting, which also happens in November. The illustrations are very well done with lots of vivid colors. This is one of my all-time favorite children’s authors now that I’ve read several of her books. These are great to share with your kids/grandkids/daycare/preschool/etc and would make a great holiday gift!
Glass Houses by Sinister Styx
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first book that I have read by this author, and I LOVE THIS BOOK! The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover art. Once I saw this, I immediately knew that I had to read this book. The way that the author wrote had me not wanting to put this book down. I was not expecting the book to end the way that it did, and it had me wanting more! I cannot wait to read other books by this author as this one was amazing!
Stumble & Fall by Amy Rivers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A bit of a slow start for me, and I wish I had known more of the back stories of Kate and Tilly. Kate is a psychologist who opens her own practice to try and help teens in her home town, she suspects a human trafficking ring involving city officials and businessmen. Tilly is a nurse who works with victims of sexual assault to collect evidence against their attackers. Kate and Tilly are sisters and each have a past that personally links them to their work and drives them to help those in similar situations. Each are uncovering evidence that can put someone behind bars for life, and each are putting themselves directly in harms way to protect those like them. A very touching story that shows that your past should not prevent you from becoming who you want to be and helping others.
Lucas the Spy Cat: A Children’s Mystery Adventure with Creativity & Imagination Boosting Activities by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Quick, short read! Really enjoyable for kids. I was drawn to this story because of the cat. I have read others by this author as well. I would read this with my students and use it in the classroom.
Lisa, Tina, Mindy, and Ruby are the proud founders of the rom com movie club. A special tradition that got them through college and fortified their friendship. Lisa is the oldest of the group and had had some hardships in her life: as a foster kid only her final family provided her with enough love and kindness so she could get her life together at a very young age. When she gets a job as a barista at a coffee shop near where the rest of the girls go to school, the life changing moment makes everything new and long lasting.
Ryan Blair is back home after a serious spin on his love and work life. Not only he returns to his parents home but to his brother’s, Aaron, wedding, he happens to be engaged to Tina. Soon after his arrival Aaron presents him to Tina’s friends, and Lisa catches his eye, little he knows that Lisa has her eye on him as well.
A romantic story of two characters that had a few scars to heal, and how in the development of their love story friends and family get in the way trying to tell them how and when it is ok to be together.
War 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.
Dwarves’ Dilemma, The by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Dwarves’ Dilemma is Lois’s twist on the fairy-tale of Snow White. With dragons and dwarves, queens and yes, a mirror and Snow White there is something to delight all kids. It is colourful and well written that kids just fall in love with the tale whether or not they understand the science or meaning behind them. My grandbabies did. So, grab your little or littler people and dig in.
It is a science class in a book with colourful illustrations to aid in the teaching. Lois has a knack for Science Folktales.
What does Snow White find? How will the Queen handle the Dwarves’ dilemma?
Reviewed by @jennadb
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dream-Shifter is a unique and original tale aimed at those aged 7 to 12. This different tale follows a young girl Gwendolyn who is a dream-shifter, becoming the character that she dreams about.
Waking as her dream character causes all sorts of problems especially when it is hunting season. It is a dangerous time and one that she can’t avoid if she can’t become herself once again.
A magician, magic and a magical book maybe her only saviours.
Follow along as Gwendolyn learns about survival and herself along the way.
Reviewed by @jennadb
