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The Wandering Isles: A Crown of Stones Novella (Soulbound Journeys Book 1) by C. L. Schneider – Review by Santana Hicks

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The Wandering Isles (The Crown of Stones)The Wandering Isles by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the ‘Crown of Stones’ Trilogy so when I found out about this spin-off novella, I was instantly intrigued. This author has a talent for words. Descriptions of both scenery and characters are always very vivid making it very easy to immerse yourself into the world.

After the events of the Crown of Stones books, Ian Troy decides to sail to the Wandering Isles with Jarryd. They are met with voices and fog. The Islanders are attached to the island itself and have magical powers. They put the duo through a series of what if events making the men take a different look at their lives.

Ian went through some scenes of what if his villainous father wasn’t dead, what the future could be, and things in the past that are best forgotten.

Meanwhile Jarryds scenarios seem to be surrounding his time in prison. Mostly being stuck there forever, never getting out with Ian.

Will the men be able to leave the island or are they forever stuck in this fake world made by the Islanders?

Once again the author did an amazing job. I love this world and was happy to find out it wasn’t done after the trilogy ended.

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Truly Unfortunate (Welcome to Knollville Book 1) by C.A. King – Review by Santana Hicks

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Truly Unfortunate (Welcome To Knollville #1)Truly Unfortunate by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the present day, Truly has no memories of her childhood. She starts undergoing treatment to try to recover those memories all while life around her keeps getting worse and worse. She’s working 3 jobs and she still is having trouble making ends meet. When her psychiatrist suggests working with another doctor who specializes in hypnosis and zero cost, she jumps on it. Weird visions start happening to her and Truly isn’t sure if she is going crazy or if they are memories.

Meanwhile people who have been making Trulys life harder are victims of unfortunate accidents. Jeff, the detective for the recent victims, thinks there is more to it than accidents but he can’t figure out how. He witnessed a young girl in his class die from a similar ‘accident’ and he thinks that it’s the same killer from back then. The only question is how are these accidents going to be proved otherwise?

I honestly love this author. Their writing style is so unique and this is another masterpiece. I was hooked as soon as I started reading it. The premise was dark and mysterious but also thrilling. You can’t help but feel sorry for Truly since nothing seems to go her way. The author wrote Truly very well. I could see everything vividly. The plot itself is so different from anything I have read and I was truly (haha) surprised with the plot twist near the end.

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Twisted Bond by Danielle Jacks – Review by Santana Hicks

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Twisted BondTwisted Bond by Danielle Jacks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rose is part of the Wolfbane coven. Years ago their magic was stolen by the Dutchmen. In order to get it back, they come up with a plan. Rose goes in under the guise of possibly becoming the princess to Prince Titan of the Dutchmen coven, and while there try to find the moonstone that they need to restore their legacy.

Titan needs a bride and an heir before he can take on the role of King. He needs someone strong to help him maintain the magic he needs to keep up with his kingdom. So when his mother brings in a group of women to choose from, he is instantly intrigued by Rose. She isn’t like the other women. She seems to be not what she appears. Like she is hiding something and this excites Titan. Not at all what he should want for a bride.

Their chemistry is undeniable, everytime they are close the sparks fly. Will this affect Rose’s mission? Can she do it before the full moon? Can Titan find the perfect queen to rule with him?

I started off hating Titan. He was a selfish, uncaring man who liked to use people so when the element of will they/won’t they started I was hoping Rose would steer clear of him. As time went on, you got glimpses of warmth within the prince making me like him a bit more. The romance between the two of them was dark and toxic. It honestly gave me Stockholm syndrome vibes. If you like dark, steamy enemies to lovers trope with an element of the supernatural, then this book is for you!

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A Monster for Meg (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Santana Hicks

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A Monster for MegA Monster for Meg by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Meg is blind so she has never seen a monster before. Her sister Sue tries her hardest to explain what monsters are like with the intention of scaring Meg but Meg just compares everything that is said to her sister Sue. No matter what Sue says Meg thinks it’s a fun game of comparison.

I thought this book was cute. You could tell that Meg loves and looks up to her older sister Sue. Meanwhile Sue is the perfect example of an older sibling. Tries to mess with the younger but lovingly. I like how the main character is blind which makes the story unique. The author always has ‘different’ main characters making their stories very diverse. With this author there is a story for everyone!

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What Do the Plants Say? (Alex, the Inventor) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Santana Hicks

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What Do the Plants Say? (Alex, the Inventor)What Do the Plants Say? by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alex hears noises coming from the balloon flowers in her yard. She hears pop pop noises coming from them so she decides to make a translator to find out what the popping means. She discovers that the flowers want to have a flying party. Alex tries to invent more things to make the flowers happy and have an awesome plant party!

I wish this author existed when I was a kid or even when my own child was younger. I really like how the author implements science and other important things into the stories. I also like how she made the inventor a little girl. We need more girl power in children’s books and this author is doing just that.

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Foxy Tails by Natalina Reis – Review by Santana Hicks

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Foxy TailsFoxy Tails by Natalina Reis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Huli is a nine-tailed fox, a species labeled as demons. To replenish his qi, he seduces men and steals their energy. Unfortunately, his latest victim was the Prince. Once the Prince was made aware of his race, he put a bounty on his head. Huli was on the run ever since. While fleeing magically enhanced hounds, Huli comes across what appears to be an abandoned cabin in the woods. He takes cover inside only to find out that it was not abandoned at all. The man inside, named Xiao Ying, covers for Huli with the hunters.

Later on in the near future, Huli’s qi is depleted so low that he can’t even get up and do something about it. His best friend goes to get a healer to help. The healer turns out to be Xiao Ying. Replenishing Huli, depletes him so he has no choice but to stay with Huli until he is fully recovered.

Instantly the men have sparks between them but Huli is too scared to act on his feelings. He has low self esteem from jilted past lovers who left him once they discovered what he is. He isn’t sure if the feelings are reciprocated or if it is his seduction powers making Xiao Ying appear interested.

As time goes on, the pair find out that their lives are connected in more ways than one and start bonding over the similarities their pasts hold. Xiao Ying is on a mission to find out what happened to his family and invites Huli to join him while training Huli to get stronger. Along the way they come across different enemies and obstacles to overcome. Will they find out what happened in the past or will it just lead to a dead end?

There is a strong will they/won’t they and I found myself hoping they would just embrace the inevitable and get together already! I really liked the way Huli was written. He has a strong character development. He starts off with little to no confidence and slowly realizes that he isn’t a demon just because he is a nine-tailed fox. I also really like the best friend, Ling Ling. She is sassy, strong, independent with a soft and caring side. I also enjoyed their banter. The author did an amazing job writing the beginnings of a relationship. You get to watch the feelings develop slowly making it that much more adorable.

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Healing Kiss by Amanda Uhl – Review by Santana Hicks

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Healing KissHealing Kiss by Amanda Uhl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lillian Milano, who goes by Zoey, siphons energy from the healthy and gives it to the sick to heal them. An organization called Kinetica used her mother who had the same healing powers until she died. Knowing this, Lillian decides to leave her home and live on the run. She gets news that her sister is ill and she risks coming home to save her.

Lillian’s sister seems to be too far gone for her to heal her without help. When she meets Tristan, he has loads of energy to spare. Lillian approaches him and asks for his help. He has to visit her sister in the hospital for an hour or two and Lillian would be his date for an upcoming fundraiser.

Unfortunately, Tristan is too curious for his own good. He keeps getting suspicious of Lillians answers and reactions. He starts looking into her closely. Meanwhile Lillian is freaking out, scared she will be found by Kinetica if she isn’t careful. It doesn’t help that the couple has this fiery chemistry between them.

If Lillian is exposed, it could mean disaster for her family and for Tristan if he doesn’t stop digging around Lillian’s past but how can she walk away when she has never felt this way about anyone before?

I enjoyed this book. It was suspenseful with a romantic element and a hint of supernatural abilities. Lillian was so exhausted from everything. She just wants to give up but sheer determination keeps her going. I really respected that about her. The author did a really fine job implementing different emotions. I found myself egging Lillian on, hoping she can finally stop running. I thought Tristan was a little too headstrong but it was what Lillian needed to finally start tearing down some walls.

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REIGN: The Rise of the Lich (The Silver Blood Knight Book 2) by Carol McKibben – Review by Santana Hicks

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REIGN: The Rise of the LichREIGN: The Rise of the Lich by Carol McKibben
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reign is a lycan/vampire hybrid who has visions, sometimes they’re set in the future, sometimes they’re happening in real time. The beginning of the novel starts with Reign having one of these visions. The vision consists of the president turning himself into a Lich. He sends his people to go make more and more until he has amassed an army of the undead.

Since the group has been appointed by God himself, they take it upon themselves to be the country’s protector. There is Reign, James who is a magic wielding hybrid, Adam (a teenaged clone who is also a mage) and 10 brothers who are all also lycan/vampire hybrids. All of their names start with a Z, which did make the beginning of the book a bit confusing when the author first introduces the characters but then I was quickly caught up by the descriptive writing of the author.

The group bands together to defeat the Lich and his undead army while other obstacles are thrown their way. Demons, sirens, Greek mythology creatures, even Anubis who is a part of Egyptian mythology. The odds are stacked against them but they are willing to sacrifice anything to save the world.

This is technically book 2 in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. The author did a great job introducing the characters and their background. Even though it is a relatively short book, it is chalk full of action. I could not put it down, read it in one sitting.

The book does a really good job of keeping you on the hook with an ending that will make you want to read the next installment!

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Corpse Pixie by Sinister Styx – Review by Santana Hicks

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Corpse PixieCorpse Pixie by Sinister Styx
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rene’s twin sister was killed and he made a promise to avenge her by finding the murderer. When another body appears the same way his sister’s body was, he knows the killer is back. He’s trying his hardest to keep it together while working different angles. Rene thinks he is losing his mind. At night he keeps having sensual dreams about a beautiful woman so when he starts seeing her in the daytime as well, he knows it’s only a matter of time before he has a mental breakdown.

Belladonna is half pixie, half necromancer. When she sees Rene at the latest crime scene, she knows that he is going to be hers. She loves playing with him, making him crazy. They are kindred spirits. He lost his sister and she lost her whole family. She makes a deal with him, whether he agrees with it or not it’s happening. Belladonna will help him avenge his sister if Rene helps to kill her enemies.

I absolutely love this author! Their writing is so unique and interesting.Very fast paced and always has multiple elements. The author has a way with imagery, even though this was only a novella, it was packed full with detail. Magic, pixies, witches, necromancy, with the killer being a twist, you are in for an exciting ride with this read!

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Amy’s Rebellion (Gemstone Massacre Book 1) by Julia Goldhirsh – Review by Santana Hicks

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Amy's Rebellion (Gemstone Massacre)Amy’s Rebellion by Julia Goldhirsh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amy was only 12 when she accidentally killed a man, causing the strong leader, Opal, to come for vengeance. To stand a chance, Amy fled to the human world where she learned to harness her powers and opened up a gemstone shop to pass the time. She was tired of running and decided that she was going to settle down whether it meant fighting Opal or not.

Opal spent years trying to find Amy so when she finally succeeds, she takes Amy and her sister Garnet captive. Amy knows that she has to defeat Opal but she won’t be able to do it alone. She was able to destroy most of the magic world after binding Merlin’s two swords together.

When Amy first came to the human world, she met Iris, a shifter who helped Amy figure out some of her powers. With her help and the help of a few other magical friends, can they have an army strong enough to stop Opal?

This book was very unique, most of the magic users relied on gems to harness their powers. Each gem did something different. I also like how the author named all the gem users after gems. Amy was short for Amethyst. The book gave me Steven Universe vibes but more adult themed.

Another bonus is that it is LGBTQ friendly. Iris is gender-fluid and Amy has a same sex love interest. I highly recommend this book for lovers of magic.

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A Spot of Earl Slay (Tea Time Troubles Book 1) by Aubrey Elle – Review by Santana Hicks

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A Spot of Earl SlayA Spot of Earl Slay by Aubrey Elle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After finally escaping a loveless marriage, Naomi takes her daughter, Ella, to the small town of Fayette. Naomi’s uncle left her his house after he passed. Naomi took it as a means to start fresh.

Things go wrong almost instantly when a dead body is found in their shed upon arrival. Not wanting to stay in the house, when the nice older neighbours, Barbara and Ingrid, invite the duo to stay with them, Naomi is quick to say yes. The 4 women get along immediately and start to talk about their theories of whodunit. Turns out the Victim is the town’s busybody, Yasmin. Yasmin is known to be sticking her nose in everyone’s business which makes a lot more enemies than friends.

Ella is instantly excited and warms up to the older ladies instantly. Meanwhile Naomi is stuck on the what ifs. What if her ex husband finds out and tries to take Ella? What if they aren’t actually safe here? Etc…

As time goes on, more and more suspects pop up as Naomi gets to meet the townsfolk. It being a small town, everyone knows everyone and their business too so everybody she talks to has to put in their own two cents. Can the ladies figure out who the murderer is over tea? Maybe.

This book was an exciting cozy mystery that hits close to home for me. I grew up in a very small town where everyone knew everyone and when someone died, the whole town would be in cahoots, speculating everything. The author did a wonderful job portraying the small town mindset. There is one thing I wish the author did differently. I feel like the author was running out of time and rushed the ending. There were a few things mentioned but then never mentioned again making me wonder what happened there.

I must admit that the title alone is what drew me in. I love play on words and this is a clever one. The story was very realistic. I also liked how it was a woman escaping her life to start anew. She showed up with nothing and slowly built up her life again all while investigating a murder!

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Euphoric Wonderland by Ryan M. Becker – Review by Santana Hicks

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Euphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the MindEuphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the Mind by Ryan M. Becker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this collection of poems. I am not a big fan of poetry in general but I did enjoy Edgar Allen Poe so I thought I would give this book a try. It was not my jam, to no fault of the author. I just did not enjoy the majority of the poems. The poems themselves are amazingly written. Just, again, not my thing.

Based on what I do know about poetry, the author went outside the lines and created something new all together. There is so much variety from his obvious love of The Beatles, to a darker subject. It was all over the place. There are not two poems even close to being the same in this collection. Poems about superheroes, mothers, classic rock to mental health issues. There is something for everyone.

The only thing I wish the author would have done differently is categorize the poems better. I didn’t like how it went from one extreme to the other right back to back. Maybe it would hit differently if you don’t read the whole collection all at once. The subjects are deep in their own ways and the author did really well putting things into words. Words that are usually internalized. If you are not faint of heart and love poetry, I would suggest reading these.

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Undying Light (The Stella Maris Series Book 1) by Aurora Wildey – Review by Santana Hicks

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Undying LightUndying Light by Aurora Wildey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kaela is only 18 years old but she knows she is different from any others her age. She has the unique power to heal. Unfortunately she glows when she uses her power making it hard for her to disguise it.

Seth is something that is called an ‘undying’. When I was first introduced to his character, I thought he was a vampire. Being very similar to vampires, only a few things can kill an undying. After a tyrant king almost eradicated their existence, Seth is shocked to find the first one born in a millennia when meeting Kaela at an event. He instantly wants to take her under his wing and teach her their ways before the others can get a hold of her.

Kaela was attacked by a group of men who were trying to steal from the clinic she works at when she is saved by what she thinks is a werewolf. Using her powers to heal him, she risks being found out.

Meanwhile, Terran the werewolf, feels the same way after Kaela sees his human form. They go their separate ways until Terran is put on the court case as her lawyer. Terran takes it upon himself to protect Kaela, clashing with Seth who also wants to protect her.

Kaela has nowhere to go so she has to trust them. At least she has to try to. Can the 3 of them get over themselves long enough to put their differences aside?

When I first started reading this book, I thought it was going to be a typical love triangle situation but I am happy to say I was wrong. There are some romance elements, yes, but the book is mostly plot progressing keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. The three main characters are all so different from each other but also so similar. I like how instead of it being love at first sight, the author took the time to have the trio get to know each other, slowly gaining trust which is much more realistic. I will be keeping an eye open for the next installment!

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The Crown of Stones: Magic-Borne (The Crown of Stones Book 3) by C.L. Schneider – Review by Santana Hicks

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Magic-Borne (The Crown of Stones, #3)Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the final book of ‘The Crown of Stones’ trilogy and boy was it a wild ride. Ian Troy did a lot of growing up during this time. He went from being a hated anti hero to a liked hero. Being a Shinree is an automatic ticket to being hated by most but does this stop Ian? No.

Ian is still in hiding while trying to find his daughter and confront his father. He is also still trying to save himself from the inevitable doing of the crown. With the help of a weirdly diverse group, Ian travels in more ways than one.

I loved the previous two books of the series and I did enjoy this one but I must admit, it was my least favorite of the three. The first two books gave me Witcher vibes while this one is too different. I found it hard to follow along during some scenes of time travel. That’s the only downside in my opinion.

The book is set almost directly after the previous and jumps right in. If you did not read the first two books, you will be lost. The trilogy is amazing. The author wrote Ian with such depth and intensity that I have no idea how he managed to endure everything he went through. I am sad to see it end. I was introduced to this author’s books a couple years ago and I am so happy to go through this journey from start to finish. You can tell the author puts their heart and soul into the writing making the characters become more real. I can’t wait to see what the next thing the author has up their sleeve is!

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Rogue (The Talisman Series) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Santana Hicks

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Rogue (The Talisman Series)Rogue by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the 6th book of the Talisman series. Each book can be read as a stand alone but it is more understandable if you at least read the first book in the series. Each book is about a different warrior and talisman, making it easy to follow along. The author does a wonderful job creating these Celtic characters. Each with their own story and personality. What I like is how the author is able to tell a different love story within the same universe. It’s not all love at first sight. Sometimes they have to work for what is theirs which makes the story much more believable. I love this series and will be reading more.

The Morrigan put a curse on all the warriors. Find your talisman by your 28th birthday or you belong to her. In the first book, the warriors break the curse extending the time given to find your talisman. Baz Cormac thinks the curse being lifted is a myth. His 28th birthday came and he had a choice; death, go into hiding for the rest of his life or join Morgan’s army and become a rogue. Baz chose to fight for Morgan.

Years go by and Baz has given up finding his talisman completely. Until he meets a feisty woman who isn’t afraid to go head to toe with him.

Delaney has accepted her fate as a warrior spinster. Her 28th birthday came and went without finding her warrior. She starts dating a warrior who lost his talisman. When her boyfriend gets taken by Morgan, Delaney goes to his place to investigate when she is surprised by a rogue on the property. Years prior, her uncle became a rogue, dishonouring his family so they quickly disowned him. Since then, Delaney hates all rogues.

When the pair find out they are fated mates, they are shocked. Baz realized that Morgan has been lying to him for years, He wants to devise a plan to take her down and rejoin the warrior community with Delaney’s help. She can’t get past the fact that he is a rogue, let alone trust him.

They have a long road ahead of them. Will they be strong enough to make it?

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Fallen Soul (War of Destiny Book 4) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Santana Hicks

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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 book 4 in the ‘War of Destiny’ series. Usually the main character is a part of the ka-tet that has been the main focus of the series, this time it follows Lane.

Lane is a rogue vampire. Alone for years with a bounty on his head from Valentino, the king of vampires himself, for feeding off his fellow vampire. He sees himself as a monster and thinks he is doing a service by killing off other monsters. Other vampires fear him and think he is insane, that is until he meets Julia.

Julia is the first vampire in years to not know who he is and what he is capable of. This makes her intriguing to Lane. After this encounter he keeps running into her no matter where he goes. It’s as if it is destiny that Lane and the lives of Julia and the rest of the ka-tet keep crossing paths. The more he learns about this group, the more questions he has. Valentino and the vampire hunters are also hunting Julia for reasons unknown to Lane. He is willing to defend the group but can he trust them or are they just like the others and want him dead?

I have read all the books in the series so far and I think this one is my favourite. Lane is so used to being alone that he is scared to trust. The author does a really good job portraying the struggle within. Lane hates what he is and what he has done in the past. If he can’t love himself how can anyone else?

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A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small – Review by Santana Hicks

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A Dress To Remember: A Fairy TaleA Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Zarina is the youngest princess of the royal family. Since she is beautiful, everyone only sees her as a pretty face. She is spoiled and selfish. With her Royal Advancement Ceremony coming up in 2 weeks, Zarina wants the best dress. Her aunt suggests a dressmaker she knows of in the woods, claiming to be the best. Zarina goes immediately. The mysterious dressmaker takes her measurements and what not, demanding the carriage Zarina arrives in as payment.

When Zarina goes back to get her dress it is nothing like she expected. She wanted a gold dress but got a black one instead. The woman told her it may not be the dress she wants but it’s the dress she needs.

Zarina is then abandoned in the woods in the black dress that will not come off. The dress is magic, reacting to the stories Zarina tells. Zarina travels through the woods trying to find her way back home and along the way meets the locals. They try to help her find her way home. Can she make it home on time? Who is this overseer that the locals keep talking about? Is Zarina more than just a pretty face?

This book is geared towards older children although it’s exciting enough to capture the attention of adults as well. It has an interesting and unique theory too. The author did a wonderful job teaching a lesson within the plot.

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Master Calabrea (Masters of the Consulate Book 6) by Sylvia Black – Review by Santana Hicks

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Master Calabrea: Dark Vampire Romance (Masters of the Consulate Book 6)Master Calabrea: Dark Vampire Romance by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the 6th book of the ‘Masters of the Consulate’ series. Each book is about a different master vampire meeting his mate, joining together to fight a war between the races. With that saying, you can read each book as a standalone although in my opinion you should read them all. There are mentions of previous characters as they all band together in this fight.

This time around, the book is about Master Calabrea and Tansia. Tansia comes in hopes of starting a new life after a past relationship ending due to unfaithfulness. That causes Tansia to have trust issues when it comes to men. She is welcomed to help the vampires by her cousin and friend who are both mates of two other Masters. When meeting Calabrea, a dark sexy playboy vampire, Tansia can’t help but instantly feel attracted to him. No way was that happening. A human and a Vampire Master?

Calabrea can’t help but notice Tansia too. With fiery red curls and jade eyes that pierce into you, he can’t deny his attraction but he wasn’t going to admit that to anyone. The couple, both being as stubborn as can be, decide to fight against the attraction by being sassy to one another. There is a prophecy that a woman with red curls and jade eyes will team up with a strong and noble vampire, the future vampire queen thinks that the prophecy is about Tansia and Calabrea.

Will they stop being stubborn enough and embrace the prophecy and potentially each other? Will it get in the way of their mission of finding Isala who is after the future queen?

I have only read a couple books of this series but I immediately added the rest of the series to the want to read list. The author is a great story teller. Which character has their own personality causing you to fall in love with every new couple. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

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Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Santana Hicks

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Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1)Shadow Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tamaska loves her job. That is until it all went down the toilet when she was hired to coordinate an event that showed off the priceless Blood Opal. Everything was going wrong. She ended up hiring a security team last minute that came highly recommended, but still had her doubts. The head of the team, Kodiak, was a stubborn and commanding man which instantly set Tamaska off because she was just as stubborn and commanding.

Instantly there was tension between the two so when the Blood Opal disappeared, Tamaska blamed Kodiak immediately.

Meanwhile, Kodiak is a wolf shifter and realizes instantly that something more sinister is at play. It appears that the vampires are behind the theft, they have also taken a special interest in Tamaska. She decides to try to find the Blood Opal herself causing more trouble. Kodiak is trying to keep her safe from a world she knows nothing about. However, his Alpha forbade him from protecting her. He thinks that they should just focus on the vampires. Kodiak wants to do both. He is oddly attracted to Tamaska and has no idea why. Will he be able to keep her safe while keeping her oblivious to the supernatural world right under her nose?

This book was very exciting. The book starts off with a bang and never has a dull moment. I loved both characters, even though they were very similar personality wise, they were also so different and seemingly perfect for each other. The book has lots of action and some steamy scenes as well. The book ends with a lot more to come. I can’t wait for the next book to come out!

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A Mountain in the Air: A Trilogy by Laura Koerber – Review by Santana Hicks

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A Mountain in the Air: A TrilogyA Mountain in the Air: A Trilogy by Laura Koerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book consists of 3 novellas all closely connected. The first one called ‘Coyote’s Road Trip’ is about a man named Jim who is also a coyote shapeshifter. Bored with his life, he sets out on a long drive to find his new forever home. Along the way, he meets a young girl named TJ who is hitchhiking. He takes it upon himself to see her safely dropped off with her brother in Rainier. Once getting to Rainier he meets Rachel in an old ghost town with very few tenants. Rachel is also a shapeshifter so instantly the pair get along.

The second novella, ‘Raven Woman’s Tavern’, takes place shortly after the first book. Rachel and her boyfriend Jimmy take it upon themselves to care for the townspeople, supplying medicine, toiletries etc. Some things are bought while others are acquired illegally. So when a troop of militia appears to drink in the tavern, the townspeople are nervous and want them gone ASAP. Once they come back a second time after a wallet disappears from one of the men, Rachel realizes she needs to do more to get rid of them.

The book then focuses on Baylor, the only one in the Militia group who appeared nice. The group becomes abandoned and after not following the leaders orders, he is quickly thrown out of the group. Lost in the woods he finds a raven who seems to be leading him somewhere.

Last but not least the last novella, ‘A Mountain in the Air’. This takes place a couple years after the second book. Settling in nicely, the townspeople are making changes for the better. While acquiring some necessary things to do so, Jim comes across TJ from years prior. He can tell she is not doing too well and invites her to live in the town. Meanwhile, Val seems to be dying and keeps dreaming about a man who disappeared in the 90’s. He went to Mt Rainier never to return. The dreams are so vivid that they have to be real don’t they?

This trilogy was quite interesting. It was written as a day in the life genre with a supernatural element. There are shapeshifters and ghosts mingled in with regular humans coexisting within the same town. Each character had their own personality and reason to be there. The author did a really good job portraying each person.

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The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Santana Hicks

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The Exchange: A NovelThe Exchange: A Novel by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sam is just a small town girl with a big dream. She wants to become an actress. Her first step is to move to Los Angeles. As much as she thought she was prepared for the big city, there was so much she wasn’t expecting.

Almost getting denied instantly, she sets out to find a job in the meantime. Sam starts working in a small cafe when she meets Corey. She thinks he is quite handsome and charismatic. After only knowing him a short time, he asks Sam to move in and be his roommate until she can find something more permanent.

Corey wants to help Sam achieve her goals of becoming an actress. The only thing he wants in return is her unborn baby. Just a small exchange right? Sam has no idea what to do. Can she trade a human being for life as an actress? It’s all she ever wanted since she was a kid.

As soon as Sam got to L.A. I knew she was too naive for the big city. She seemed too trusting. As soon as Corey was introduced to the story, my instincts were screaming for her not to trust him. In reality, it was so much more than distrust she needed. This book was intriguing from start to finish. I hated each character in their own way which made me love the book that much more. Action, mystery, suspense with a twist on top of that, I could not put the book down!

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The Man in Black by L.R. Liverpool – Review by Santana Hicks

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The Man In BlackThe Man In Black by L.R. Liverpool
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fenimore was the son of a farmer but always dreamed of becoming more. Having read a lot of articles about famous outlaws, Fenimore decided that it’s the life he always dreamed of. He set off on his adventure of finding a gang and becoming famous as well, changing his name to Simon Shaw.

Time goes by when he meets Red Evans and his gang. Simon is invited to join the gang and doesn’t hesitate. Quickly he learns that life as an outlaw is nothing like he imagined. He thought it was all adventure and riches, never taking into account it also included murders and life on the run. On top of that revelation, he also is questioning his sexuality. Simon started developing feelings for Red’s second in command, Monty.

Killings among the crew start happening and it is a mystery as to who is doing it. The killer is always one step ahead of the gang causing Red to start losing his marbles thinking that he has a rat within his own men. Simon starts regretting this whole thing but it’s too late to tuck tail and go home especially when he could be the next victim.

I have to say that this book has so much going on within that I am finding it difficult to put into words. I usually hate reading anything of the Western style but the other going ons in the synopsis intrigued me. Even though to me Westerns are boring, this one was not. There was romance, mystery, murder, and it delved into darker topics like racism, homophobia, possible rape etc. It was packed full to the brim with different topics.

My only issues with this book are that the author kept switching from first name basis to last name basis of the characters that I found it a bit difficult to keep track of who’s who. The second issue is the book is divided into 3 parts and part 1 felt like it was dragging on too long before anything of importance happened. Once I started in part 2, the plot started to speed up and get more exciting.

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Straight for the Kill (Benoit and Dayne Mystery Book 3) by Winter Austin – Review by Santana Hicks

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Straight for the Kill (Benoit and Dayne Mystery, #3)Straight for the Kill by Winter Austin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elizabeth Benoit, the sheriff, had her best friend die 25 years ago. Deemed an accidental OD, the case was closed. Elizabeth always thought there was more to the story and kept the case files close.

Now that it is 25 years later, another young girl dies of very similar circumstances. Lila Dayne, a deputy, was the one who discovered the body. Since she knows about the previous case, she decides to try to keep Elizabeth out of it. Elizabeth does not take this well.

Lila is trying her hardest to solve the case while butting heads with her superiors. The case runs deeper than first imagined and there are a few suspects. Nothing seems to be adding up. On top of that, Elizabeth’s sister goes missing causing even more trouble within the team. Can Lila and Elizabeth band together and find the murderer? Read to find out!

This book is technically book 3 of the series but can be read as a stand-alone. Although I feel if you want to get to know the women better, especially Lila, you should read the previous books. It hints at a traumatic past. I enjoyed the book. It was action filled from start to finish. I sat there and was constantly on edge. Both women are well written. They are so different yet so alike. Elizabeth is stubborn, strong but charismatic while Lila is stubborn, takes no crap, and is fast to anger but gets stuff done.

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True Colors (Landry’s True Colors Series Book One) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Santana Hicks

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True Colors (Landry's True Colors #1)True Colors by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Landry, a 14 year old girl, thinks she is nothing special. She dislikes a lot about herself. When her two best friends, Tori and Ericka, decide the three of them should try out for a reality tv show about young models, Landry thinks she will be laughed at. Being the people pleaser she is, she goes to the audition. The judges liked Landry and she moved on to the next round. Meanwhile Tori and Ericka were cut.

Monday rolls around and Landry is shunned by both girls. They started talking behind her back and low key insulting her. Landry started hanging out with a few other girls in her grade. Some of them were typical teenage girls, jealous, controlling, already established with their own cliques.

Landry just wants to have a friend she can rely on when she needs emotional support. She feels like no matter where she goes, she’s on the outside looking in. Will she ever truly belong somewhere?

While reading this book, I felt like either I could have written it myself or someone wrote about my life when I was 14 years old. The author was spot on about what being a 14 year old girl was like. Jealousy, low self-esteem, backstabbing, never knowing who your true friends are. I had all these things happen to me, minus the modeling, when I was that age so this book hit me in the feels. Highly recommend this book to teenagers and young adults.

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Three Made In Heaven (Made In Heaven #1) by Elena Kincaid – Review by Santana Hicks

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Three Made in Heaven (Made in Heaven, #1)Three Made in Heaven by Elena Kincaid
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you are looking for a short erotica with a HEA, this is the book for you. Although this is classified as a paranormal romance, there are barely any paranormal aspects. I also found there wasn’t much depth in the storyline. It focused too much on the sex aspect of things. I also found the men to be dull. They barely had any personally and were too much alike other than their hair and eye color.

The story starts off with Maddie, Charlie and Cole meeting somehow in a shared dream. For years, the trio would meet in the dreamworld thinking the other two were just figments of their imagination. That is until both men realized they were in love with Maddie.

After having a recurring nightmare, the men realize that Maddie could be in danger and decide to show her that they are in fact real. Scared for Maddie’s well-being they go to her.

I was disappointed about the ‘danger’ the book kept hinting at. The way it was talked about seemed like it was going to be malicious and more dangerous then what actually happened.

One thing that the book had going for it was the spicy content. The sex scenes were detailed but not too graphic. All in all, I was kind of disappointed. This book was nothing like I thought it was going to be.

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Talisman (The Talisman Series Book 1) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Santana Hicks

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Talisman (The Talisman, #1)Talisman by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alyssa has always had a fascination for Celtic history, so much so that she was majoring in it for school. Little did she know that the myths she enjoyed weren’t myths at all and that her heritage traced back to it. Her parents died when she was quite young and was raised by her grandmother who kept Alyssa oblivious to the fact that she was a talisman.

A warrior is nothing without his weapon, name and talisman. Or so the saying goes. Rowan has ⅔ of these things and he’s running out of time to find the third before he is taken across the ford. All warriors have until their 28th birthday to find their talisman before the Morrigan comes to collect. Rowan’s birthday is coming up. He has pretty much accepted his fate until he meets Alyssa.

Instantly Alyssa catches his attention. When he finds out she is his talisman, he is ecstatic. Unfortunately Alyssa has no idea what a talisman is and what is required of them. All she knows is this handsome man has shown interest in her. Used to being the less attractive friend, she is reluctant to believe that this man could want her.

They have very little time to convince Alyssa she is a talisman and to train her before the Morrigan starts her attack. Can they defeat a Celtic goddess or were they doomed from the beginning?

I really enjoyed this book. It was filled with interesting Celtic lore, handsome warriors, and action themes. Also had romance, spice and a couple of zombie warriors. I could not put this book down. The author did an amazing job building the world. They are very clearly knowledgeable in what they wrote. All the characters were unique in their own way making each one lovable.

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Sharing His Nanny (Forever Our Girl Book 2) by Tori Chase – Review by Santana Hicks

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Sharing His Nanny (Forever Our Girl, #2)Sharing His Nanny by Tori Chase
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Everything was coming up Stella when her boyfriend who was also to be her investor was caught cheating and bad mouthing her and her clothing line for plus size women. Naturally she told him to take his money and stick it.

Unfortunately this left her strapping for cash, she had a deadline to make if she wanted her fashion line out in the world soon. She calls her step-mother in hopes for some financial aid when the step mother gives her an offer she can’t refuse.

Charles, Stella’s step-brother, had a baby with no help to take care of her. This month was supposed to be their annual vacation at the beach house. Stella is offered the job as the baby’s nanny for a month by their mother. Having nowhere to go, Stella decides to give it a try.

Charles is there with two other friends and they are all gorgeous in their own ways. What can go wrong this month?

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to only because it had a lot less romance and more crudeness than I expected. I loved Charles, he was sweet, strong, independent and made a wonderful father. Alex was nice and funny and very easy to talk to so I liked him as well. Jordan, well he was a different story. I honestly hated his character. He was smug and bossy and I hated the way he interacted with everyone.

Fortunately for Stella, each man brought something to the table and she was fulfilled in more ways than one.

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A Dowry of Snails and Mud by Brittany Tucker – Review by Santana Hicks

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

Rhia Caddell is only 16 years old when her father arranges a marriage to the Kings youngest son, Emerys, to try and save their small village. Rhia’s father is the mayor of the town and he did not want to bow to the king and pay taxes. The King is finally demanding what he is owed or he will wipe the town off the map. Rhia is their last hope. The family hopes that her marriage to the Prince will sway the Kings sentence.

Unfortunately Rhia is not a typical ‘Lady’. She is used to getting her hands dirty. She also is very tall for a woman making her see herself as undesirable.

The Prince is almost opposite of Rhia. He is dainty with soft hands that have never known hard work. Instantly Rhia digs her heels in. She does not want this marriage and she makes it known from the beginning. Instantly there is tension between the couple. Can she save her town before it is too late?

This story was very cute. It was opposites attract trope mixed with enemies to lovers with a HEA! I loved Rhia. She is sassy, independent, brave and stubborn. Emerys was full of hope and determination to show his father he can be a good Prince but lacked self confidence. The two evened each other out quite nicely.

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Married Blind (King of Screen Book 2) by Morgana Bevan – Review by Santana Hicks

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Married Blind (Kings of Screen, #2)Married Blind by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Abi and Finn both sign up for a TV show called ‘Married Blind’. Basically they were to get legally married and stay together for 3 months being recorded along the way. After the 3 months are up, the couple are asked if they want to divorce or stay married.

Abi was doing it for the money to pay off her bills (with a slight hope of finding Mr. Right) while Finn, an actor, was doing it to up his image after a previous scandal.

Finn was going in with walls up. He could play the loving husband in front of the cameras but vowed to not get attached. With his emotions all over the place, Abi had no idea what was real and what was acting. One thing was clear though. The sexual tension was undeniable. Finn was having trouble staying away from Abi who seemed to be the perfect fit for him. A person can only deny their true feelings for so long before a line is crossed.

This book was an emotional ride. It made me smile, it made me cry. Meanwhile there was a lot of steam between the couple. I was not expecting the amount of spice in the book after reading the synopsis but boy, I am not complaining! I am not usually a fan of romance without a fantasy aspect to it but I really enjoyed this one! The author did a really good job portraying the emotions of both characters. Highly recommend reading this one!

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The Husbands by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Santana Hicks

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The HusbandsThe Husbands by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First, I must say I love this author! Everything I’ve read from them I’ve enjoyed. Although this wasn’t the usual genre that they write, I decided to give it a read just because of who wrote it. I was not disappointed.

The book starts off 3 years in the past. Dorian is in Hawaii for a job. When the job goes wrong, he ends up accidentally hurting Augustine. Feeling guilty, he keeps close by to make sure Augustine is fine. As time goes on, they start to develop feelings. Both men are happily married to their wives and realize that they should go their separate ways before a line is crossed.

Three years later, Augustine and his wife moved to a new town. Little did they know that Dorian also lived in this town. Augustine and Dorian’s wives meet and become fast friends causing the two men to enter back into each other’s lives.

As much as they try to avoid each other, old feelings start to creep back in. The men try to be friends for the sake of their wives.

This was a cute little romance book with a HEA. Even though it is a short read, it is still so emotionally detailed that it sucks you right in. Totally recommend reading this and anything else this author wrote.

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