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Felines and Fatalities (A Kitty Beret Cafe Mystery Book 2) by Ruth J. Hartman – Review by Santana Hicks

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Felines and Fatalities (A Kitty Beret Cafe Mystery, Book 2)Felines and Fatalities by Ruth J. Hartman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ellie and Templeton are at it again! This time at a cat show! One of Ellie’s long time customers passed away and in her will left some money for Ellie to take and put on a cat show specifically for rescue cats. Ellie, not wanting to refuse the dying wishes, decides to take on the request.

Once at the venue, Ellie is in search of some supplies when she comes across a dead body. The body was that of one of the supposed judges of the event. Ellie calls Simon right away and they decide to carry on with the show. The murderer could still be in the building.

Templeton is up to his normal shenanigans and finding items. Ellie remembering that the items he found a few months ago led to the previous murderer, she doesn’t dismiss anything he finds. Ellie’s attention is spread thin as she is hosting the show, Templeton keeps running off, cat people seem to be prissy and full of complaints. What else can go wrong today?

This book was better than the first in the series. Yes it talked about cats a lot but focused on outside things as well making it more mysterious than the first book. I once again fell in love with Ellie and her sleuth cat.

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Hairballs and Homicide (A Kitty Beret Cafe Mystery Book 1) by Ruth J. Hartman – Review by Santana Hicks

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Hairballs and HomicideHairballs and Homicide by Ruth J. Hartman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was right up my alley. A strong independent cat lady who owned a cafe that homed and adopted out rescue kitties? On top of that, a cat who also has a knack for finding clues? Yes please!

Ellie is the owner of ‘Kitty Beret Cafe’. Being a cat lover, she opened the cafe in hopes of helping strays and rescues find their furrever homes. One day a woman comes in and starts causing a scene about the cats. The woman detested cats and thought they had no place near food and drink. They were unsanitary and evil. Ellie, of course, tried to defend her cafe and the cats but the woman wouldn’t hear any of it.

A couple hours later, police showed up at the cafe. The woman was found dead behind the cafe. The murder weapon a cat toy. Simon, the cop on the case, instantly has a connection with Templeton (Ellie’s cat) who normally couldn’t be bothered with anyone. Threatening things start happening to Ellie that seem to connect to the murder.

Templeton keeps finding clues around the cafe. Which Ellie presented to the police helping the investigation.

The way the author wrote Templeton was perfect. He reminds me of my grumpy old man cat. Especially when the author humanizes him with certain reactions. He was by far my favorite character.

Kitty love took precedence to the murder which was supposed to be the whole point of the mystery aspect of the book. I did not have an issue with this as I absolutely adore cats but it could be off putting to others.

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Hungry Business: A Gothic Story about the Horrors of Dating by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Santana Hicks

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Hungry BusinessHungry Business by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short story told in first person by a woman who is one of very few humans left alive after a zombie apocalypse. She is lonely and tries to find someone to spend her time with. Date after date it seems there are no good men left. Zombies pretending to be human just to try to get a taste of her, literally, going through the motions of what they remember from being human. The woman states that she is done with dating but loneliness gets the best of her and she once again tries the dating world. Her only joy is the cat who lives across the road as he symbolizes hope of fellow humans.

This short story was not what I was expecting at all but I still liked it. It was a very quick read but was still very detailed.

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Wicked Treasure (The Charm Collector Book 2) by Melissa Erin Jackson – Review by Santana Hicks

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Wicked Treasure (The Charm Collector, #2)Wicked Treasure by Melissa Erin Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book of The Charm Collector series and it is just as thrilling as the first. Full of excitement and magical creatures and items, I could not put this down.

The book is set shortly after Harlow leaves the city with the cursed sword from the first book. This time we see some of Kayda’s point of view. Kayda and Harlow have been best friends for years so when Kayda finds out that Harlow left the city, sword in tow, with one of the most known “bad guy” Caspian Blackthorne, to say she is pissed would be an understatement. With only a little note delivered by messenger bird, Kayda is left alone to worry about her bestie and why she wasn’t asked to help.

With the help of Kayda’s crush Henri and the witch Welsh, she finds out more than she was planning. Especially about the so-called “Collective” and the veil that is slowly thinning more and more.

Meanwhile, Harlow and Caspian are on the run. They work together to try to find the root of where the sentient sword came from. Where there is magical treasure also lies magical and supernatural enemies to overcome.

This book is by far more action packed than its previous. I was intrigued by Kayda in the first book. She was fashionable yet badass. So when the book started from her point of view, I was immediately excited. I loved getting to know all of the characters more as time went on. I absolutely cannot wait for book 3!

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The Girl Who Escaped by Mark Nolan – Review by Santana Hicks

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The Girl Who EscapedThe Girl Who Escaped by Mark Nolan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Angie Taylor was enjoying her vacation with three of her friends when the worst thing imaginable happened. Last call of the night, a waiter served the girls shots on the house. Angie, being the designated driver, did not accept the shot. The three others did. Once they entered the car to go home, the waiter was there waiting for them with a gun in hand. Angie’s friends passed out one by one and the man demanded Angie drive them somewhere. Being sober, Angie still had her wits about her and somehow managed to escape the man. Once police arrived at the car, the other girls were stabbed to death. Blamed for her friend’s death, Angie is taken into custody and then never spoke a word until a month later.

With the help of an FBI agent, a golden retriever and his handler, and a kind nurse, Angie finally feels safe enough to start talking about what happened that night. Meanwhile the killer may come back to finish what he started.

This book was so intense and had so much happen in a short amount of time that I was invested immediately. There were times I gasped, teared up, clenched my fists. It was a wild ride but one that I was happy to take.

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Unearthly Magik (Black Cauldron Detective Agency Book 1) by Matilda Reyes – Review by Santana Hicks

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Unearthly Magik (Black Cauldron Detective Agency Book 1)Unearthly Magik by Matilda Reyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ava Ramos is a gray mage who owns her own agency called the black cauldron. Being a gray mage means that you are in a gray zone for morals which makes certain jobs hers for the taking. Ava isn’t scared to get her hands dirty and because of this, she is well known in the supernatural world.

Everything seems to be going good when Ava realizes that she is being followed by someone she does not recognize. Ava’s old boss whom she hates with a passion, Tasis, shows up with a job that she cannot refuse. A grimoire which holds a lot of dark secrets is in circulation. In the wrong hands it could be detrimental to a lot of races if not all. Tasis wants to employ Ava to retrieve it for him. He offers one of his own guys to help out, a mage by the name of Max.

Instantly there is tension between the two mages. This was the same guy that Ava caught a few times following her so instantly she did not trust him. As time goes on there is some will they/won’t they vibes between the two. Lack of trust made things go less smoothly than Ava had hoped. They will have to put their differences aside if they want to get out of this case unscathed.

This book sucked me in right from the beginning. It’s filled with magic, mystery, action with a huge plot twist to top it off. The characters are relatable making it easier for me to envision myself in their world. Ava is sassy, stubborn, mean and a little bit crazy. Max is charismatic and knows it. He uses his looks and flirtation to get what he wants and most of the time it works in his favor. The two seem like an unlikely pair but the partnership throughout this case really works well for them.

The only downfall was the fact that there was some Spanish in the book which I do not speak so I was not fully aware of some of the banter between the characters.

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Ashes (Modern-Day Fairy Tale Book 1) by MK Harkins – Review by Santana Hicks

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Ashes (Modern-Day Fairy Tale, #1)Ashes by M.K. Harkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ashley is in her senior year at Redmond High School. Her father passed away a year prior leaving her to live with her step mother and two step sisters. Her father left her a trust fund to go away to college but with one stipulation, she must graduate on time. Ashley’s step mother, Veronica, will stop at nothing to get that money for herself. She puts Ashley to work in the family funeral home and only gives her the bare minimum time to complete anything else outside of work.

Harry James, a famous pop star, has gotten into a lot of trouble. His sentence included finishing high school with no more trouble and out of the spotlight. Redmond High School has a really good basketball team so that is the school he decides to serve his sentence out.

Cue the meet cute in the funeral home no less. Instantly there are sparks but the universe seems against them being together.

Everyone loves an old fashioned fairy tale, especially the classics. This book is a modern take on Cinderella and I loved it. Cinderella was one of my favorites when I was a child but this book made it more relatable.

Ashley and Harry are so different from each other yet so similar at the same time. Ashley is hardened by the loss of her father, she no longer believes in love and has so many walls up that she seems indifferent to everything. She is sassy, honest and will say what’s on her mind even if it will get her into trouble.

Harry is a charismatic guy who has trouble disappointing people. He will go out of his way to make everyone else happy, even at the expense of his own happiness. Being thrust into the spotlight at a young age made him lose himself and he has become a shell of what he once wanted to be.

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Fatal Memory (Agent Red:Teagan Stone Series Book 1) by Ava S. King – Review by Santana Hicks

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Agent Red: Fatal Memory (Teagan Stone, #1)Agent Red: Fatal Memory by Ava S. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you are looking for a quick read that is fast paced and filled to the brim with action, look no further!

Teagan Stone is a mother of 3 and a doting wife to her husband. One day she is kidnapped by her old team from an elite force of spies. With her memory gone, she has no idea who these people are and why they would want anything to do with her. Turns out she was a badass agent who decided to give up the spy life to raise her children. Unfortunately a former team member has gone missing and the clues lead to the last case Teagan and her team last worked together.

They tell her one more case and she can go back to her family. She never wanted to be dragged back into the life but has no choice.

The author did a really good job of stuffing the book full of action with a splash of politics. Taking place in the present with flashbacks so you know what the previous case was. I also really enjoyed the way the author wrote Teagan. She’s sassy, strong, smart and stubborn.

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Jester by Brielle D. Porter – Review by Santana Hicks

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JesterJester by Brielle D. Porter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lisette spent most of her life learning parlour tricks in a world ravaged in magic. She was set to inherit her father’s magic but he ends up being executed for killing the king, and ends up taking the magic with him to the grave. She has one goal and will do anything to get it. Become the next Jester to the clean and join the higher ups she was meant to be a part of.

Unfortunately she has a rival competing for the same title, Luc, who has real magic. After Luc ruined one of her shows, she got revenge which resulted in a game of tag. They also have a very strong will they/won’t they vibe throughout the book

Eventually some evidence surfaces and it makes the Queen a suspect in the King’s murder. Lisette has a choice to make. What is more important to her? The goal she set for herself as a child, to be rich and famous or to clear her father’s name.

I really enjoyed this book. Lisette is stubborn, determined, strong and witty. I very much enjoyed getting to know her as a character. Luc, not so much. He was a pompous arse and I hated him from day one. He thought he was all that and a bag of chips, using his charm and looks to his advantage. Although after a while he becomes more human making him more likeable as time goes on.

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The Crown of Stones: Magic-Scars (The Crown of Stones Book 2) by C.L. Schneider – Review by Santana Hicks

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Magic-Scars (The Crown of Stones, #2)Magic-Scars by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The book is set a couple years after the first book in the trilogy. Since it has been a year since I read the previous book, I was a little worried I would be lost but the way the author slipped in past events made it very easy to follow and remember what had happened.

After Troy was defeated, he was thrown into prison for 2 years. Constantly being drugged to suppress his magic. When he finally comes to, he is lost. Lost in more ways than one. He has no idea where he is, who he is, who he was, nothing.

As time goes on, Ian starts remembering, including names of people who have done him wrong. He tries to figure out who he once was and his ties to the crown. All while trying to put things back together before the reign of Draken of Langor.

I have been in love with this author since I read the first book in this trilogy last year. I really enjoy this author’s writing. They are very focused and show a lot of attention and care with everything they write. Each character comes to life and the writing style in all of their books makes you lose yourself in the fantasy world. This book was no different. I enjoyed this book a little more than the first as it was more dark and twisted. I would highly recommend this book and anything else this author writes!

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Blood Sector (V-Clan Book 1) by Lexi C. Foss – Review by Santana Hicks

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Blood Sector (V-Clan #1)Blood Sector by Lexi C. Foss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have always been a big fan of werewolves so when I read the synopsis to this book, I knew I had to read it and boy, I am happy I did.

Quinn, an omega wolf, is the only heir and ruler of the blood sector after her parents die in a plane crash. She has secrets, many of them, which makes her decide to leave her clan to get to the bottom of her parents death. To do that, she knows she cannot leave her sector without a ruler. Quinn goes to Kieran, a powerful Alpha from a surrounding pack, with an offer he can’t refuse. Chosen mates. He gets to be king of the V-clan wolves. Before they are fully mated, Quinn runs.

Quinn spends the next 100 years running and hiding from Kieran while trying to solve past mysteries. Kieran, seeing it as a challenge, chases her until she is finally found. 100 years takes a toll on someone. As much as Kieran wanted to punish his bride to be, she is broken in many ways, ways that Kieran may not be able to heal.

Quinn has a lot to make up for while trying to avoid her secrets coming to the surface. Her people feel betrayed, Kieran feels betrayed. Will she settle down and finally become the queen her bloodline intended her to be?

This book was like an intense roller coaster that I couldn’t get off. It was mysterious. It was dramatic. It was steamy. I could not put this book down! The author did an amazing job with both main characters and the world around them. My only downfall was some of the sex talk. I get that the characters are technically wolves but the way the author wrote some of it, came a little too animalistic to be fully enjoyable personally.

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Stitch by Stitch by Marie-Therese Hernon – Review by Santana Hicks

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Stitch by StitchStitch by Stitch by Marie-Thérèse Hernon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Elizabeth is a single mother of 2 struggling in her day to day life. She cheated on her husband resulting in a child that was not his causing them to divorce. Elizabeth knows she messed up and lives everyday living the consequences. Her ex-husband, still angry, is making things worse. Late with the child support cheque and letting his thoughts of his ex-wife known to their son. Elizabeth falls deeper and deeper into debt. She goes to a trunk show where a woman, named Louisa, is selling clothing in a pyramid scheme. Sounding too good to be true, Elizabeth falls for it. On her way to her first training session, she is met by police tape and the murder of Louisa. Elizabeth makes it her duty to solve the murder.

Trying to solve a murder, take care of a toddler by herself, protect her older son from bullies, an appearance of an ex, Elizabeth tries to do it all.

This book is the debut novel written by this author and it shows. The synopsis made the book sound really interesting and it was for the most part. The only downfall was it was very repetitive and felt like the author was just trying to fill the pages. It did not focus on the murder very often and then felt very rushed to close the case at the end of the book.

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Princess of Prias by Courtney Davis – Review by Santana Hicks

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Princess of PriasPrincess of Prias by Courtney Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elle has always been different but she could never put her finger on why other than the obvious star shaped birthmark and purple eyes. After the death of the woman who raised her named Aunt Sara, she came across a box that was labelled with Elle’s name on it. When going through the box, Elle found a journal and a bracelet from her biological mother who died after giving birth. The journal was in a language she did not recognize and the bracelet glowed and had weird inscriptions in the same foreign language. Elle also felt a weird pain shot through her birthmark.

Over the next couple days, the feelings do not subside. A man, named Locan, approaches her and confirms she is indeed different. She is the lost princess of a Utopia called Prias. Her whole life is turned upside down. Learning the truth of her own family and the betrayal behind it, Elle and Locan know that she was meant to rule but can they take down everyone and everything in their way?

This book was a very fun read. I found Elle’s character to be very relatable. The author did an amazing job introducing each character and world building. I could not put the book down. I had to find out what happened next! I also really enjoyed that Elle wasn’t an 18 year old when she learned she was a princess. She was already an established woman with a career, making her that much more relatable to me as an adult myself.

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The Vilification of Aqua Marine by Megan Mackie – Review by Santana Hicks

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The Vilification of Aqua Marine (Working Mask, #1)The Vilification of Aqua Marine by Megan Mackie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aqua Marines mother was a supervillian while her father was a superhero. She wants so very badly to follow in her father’s footsteps. Her powers are quite weak compared to the other superheroes so she tries harder than anyone else to make a name for herself. Aqua can only manipulate a cup of water at a time. One evening when she is taking on a villain called The Overlord of the Dance, she accidentally grabs the water from his heart, killing him in the process. This sends Aqua into an existential crisis and gets her to rethink her future as a hero.

Aqua finds out that the Overlord of the Dance actually didn’t die and is now out for revenge. Calling her out of her depression, she finds reason to continue her journey of becoming the superhero she always wanted to become with the help of her new nemesis.

This book was exciting enough to maintain the interest of multiple audiences. It is geared for a younger audience but I enjoyed it quite immensely. There was action, emotion, heroes, villains, a bit of politics regarding both things and even a little splash of romance. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a fun read.

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Death & Mirrors (All Things Dark & Deadly Book 1) by SF Benson – Review by Santana Hicks

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Death & Mirrors: All Things Dark & Deadly, Book OneDeath & Mirrors: All Things Dark & Deadly, Book One by S.F. Benson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Evaline is a necromancer who sees herself as a future detective. She looks up to Sherlock Holmes and wants to follow in his footsteps. Life has other plans for her. Being a woman in the late 1800s, she doesn’t have many rights. Her father has arranged a marriage to a man she does not like at all. Everything she wants to do is frowned upon, even her magical abilities.

A woman, named Nerezza, shows up seeking help from Evaline’s father. A creature called Dr. Death is wreaking havoc upon her world and there is an artifact she thinks can stop the creature. Unfortunately after the death of his wife, he stepped back in his normal job for unearthing valuable artifacts. Evaline’s interest is piqued and she decides to follow the woman and offer her help.

Nerezza decides to take advantage of Evaline’s offer and flings her into her own world which is a mirror version of London. Evaline has to use her wits and magic to help find this artifact and Dr. Death.

Someone else said that this is like Alice in Wonderland meets Sherlock Holmes and I completely agree with that statement. It was exciting and mysterious and kept me on the edge of my seat. Ending on a cliffhanger, I cannot wait for the second book of the series!

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Blood & Vengeance (The Casket Girls Book 2) by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Santana Hicks

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Blood & Vengeance (The Casket Girls #2)Blood & Vengeance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is set two weeks after the first book and delves right into where the previous book ends, so I suggest reading that book first. You can technically read this as a stand alone but it would be better to read in order. I enjoyed the first book immensely so of course I immediately started reading the second book of the series.

This time the main character is Desiree, who is one of the women captured in the first book. After defeating the big bad in the first book, they are rescued by Greer and Theron and brought to what will be their new home.

Realizing that there are other vampires that survived, Theron and Desiree take it upon themselves to hunt them down. Desiree is taken by surprise by a feral vampire and rescued by another Vampire by the name of Jaxon.

Jaxon is not like the other vampires. He hates the hunt and hates feeding on innocent humans. He lets Theron and Desiree in on just that and joins them in the hunt for the others. A woman from Jaxon’s past shows up and puts a damper on their plans.

The three join together to fight while Desiree and Jaxon try to fight their inevitable feelings for each other.

So far I am loving this series and love all of the Casket Girls. They each have their own unique personality and I cannot wait for the next installment!

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Blood & Ravens (The Casket Girls Series Book 1) by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Santana Hicks

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Blood & Ravens (The Casket Girls, #1)Blood & Ravens by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was intriguing from the very beginning. Greer, one of the main characters, is taken forcefully from her home and wakes up on a boat half starved and dirty. The only thing she remembers is a dream of a handsome man who is in the dark not fully seen.

Once docked, Greer finds out that she is a part of a group of women sent to a convent to live their days before an arranged man comes to take them away for marriage. Most women are there willingly. During the night, Greer has another dream about the man she deemed her “Dark Knight”. Coincidentally, another woman had a similar dream with a man visiting her whilst she slept as well.

Suspicion sets in and Greer tries to wake up when she feels the man’s presence once more. Sure enough, he is real. As well as countless other men visiting the other women’s cots. The women who have been having nightly visitors are starting to get sick. Greer finds out that these men are vampires and they have been feeding off of the women making them weaker.

Theron, the man Greer deemed as her Dark Knight, is actually a demon cast out by Hades to live his remaining life as one of the soulless vampires. He was once ruthless and had no remorse. After meeting Greer, all that seemed to change. He is attracted to her somehow which he doesn’t understand. Theron lets Greer into the light of the supernatural beings around her. Theron knows that they cannot be but that doesn’t stop them from trying.

I really enjoyed the book. Greer is a headstrong woman who took her life into her own hands regardless out the outcome.

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Twilight’s Spy (Twilight Realm Trilogy Book 1.5) by K.M. Wray – Review by Santana Hicks

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Twilight's SpyTwilight’s Spy by K.M. Wray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yarissa never wanted to be a spy. Her plan was to complete her training and then join the elites, which is a group of warriors. On her last assignment as a trainee, she was to get information on how to cross the Haltiya Ravine. She succeeded when no other elf did. That put her in the eyes of the King and he personally asked her to continue her spy work into the night realm. As much as she didn’t want to go this path, she couldn’t say no to the king. Yarissa’s plan was to complete the mission and return with the favour of the king. The only obstacle is survival and inexperience. A bad combination indeed.

This book was a great short background story of Yarissa, fitting nicely in between book one and two of this series. My only issue with it is that it was kind of repetitive. It felt like the author was just filling in space to make the story longer.

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The Second Alpha Heir by C.L. Ledford – Review by Santana Hicks

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The Second Alpha HeirThe Second Alpha Heir by C.L. Ledford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nolen is the second son of the Alpha of their pack, making him mostly unseen. Compared to his perfect brother Archer, Nolen was scrawny and weak. He never had to worry about it though as Archer was the heir to the pack. That is until one day Archer is killed, thrusting Nolen into the spot of heir at the young age of 13.

Nolen was completely unprepared for what was expected of him. Fortunately, there is another heir from a different pack, named Sawyer, undergoing Alpha training to take over his own pack. Nolen’s father decided it was in his best interest to train with Sawyer and his pack until his 18th birthday when Nolen’s wolf is due to show himself.

While Nolen was training with the pack, he met Sawyer’s sister Amora and there is an instant connection between them. She was only 10 years old so he chalked it up to a protective feeling of this little girl.

As time goes on, Nolen gets bigger and stronger and feelings for Amora are even more confusing. There is a lot of will they\won’t they tension once they hit their teen years.

This was a very well written coming of age paranormal book. Nolen has no self esteem even after he gets bigger and more handsome. He has it in his head that he will never be as good as his brother and that no one will accept him as their Alpha. I like how the author delved into those feelings, often making Nolen be more relatable to the reader. Scrawny, timid boy turns into a strong, handsome and more confident man.

The only thing I did not like was the age of Amora when feelings were starting to develop. She was too young in my eyes. I know there isn’t much of an age difference between the two but where the age difference is makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. Having an 11 year old child myself, I didn’t want to think of a girl that age in a love story. But hey, that is just me in denial that my son is growing up.

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The Lie That Binds by Amy Argent – Review by Santana Hicks

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The Lie That BindsThe Lie That Binds by Amy Argent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nathan is the golden boy at his school. He is popular and gorgeous, making everyone want him or want to be like him.

Holly is the new girl, a nobody in the eyes of the popular crowd but that doesn’t stop her from noticing Nathan. Even when he is bullying others, she can’t stop thinking about him. After Holly witnesses something, she realizes that there is more to Nathan than what he is portraying.

After Nathan finds out that Holly knows his secret he has been keeping from almost everyone at school, he is terrified that she will out him. To keep her quiet, he befriends her but as time goes on, as does his feelings for Holly.

The synopsis of this book really captured my attention but unfortunately it was completely different than what I expected. The book was alright for what it was. The synopsis implied something much darker. Also for a YA book, it had way too much sexual details. It was too heavy for what I expected for a book in the YA genre.

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Distant Memories (Nurse Morgan Series Book 2) by Kate MacInnis – Review by Santana Hicks

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Distant Memories: A Nurse Morgan Series: Book TwoDistant Memories: A Nurse Morgan Series: Book Two by Kate MacInnis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book starts off immediately after the first one in the series so I suggest reading the first book before starting this one.

Morgan is finally at peace with her house guests. To make things work between the three, they set boundaries in place. The ghosts are following the house rules mostly causing a relaxing atmosphere. That is until another ghost appears.

The new guest is a sexy woman named Esmeralda Camarillo Castillo. She is a vixen and when she sees a man she wants, she pounces. Unfortunately, her eyes are set on Caleb. Caleb and Morgan are very new into their relationship and already they have to worry about another woman. On top of all that, Esmeralda has decided to make Morgan’s life complicated in other departments too.

Morgan is trying to keep up with everything going on around her but is having trouble doing so while ghosts are now everywhere in her life.

The author has once again taken a ghost story and turned it into something completely unique. I love that there is suspense and mystery but then there is also romance and comedy. I love Morgan. She is confident and doesn’t change for anybody. She knows who she is and lets everyone see her. Life tries to tear her down but she just stands back up and shows her strength.

Highly recommend this series thus far!

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Between Darkness & Light (War of Destiny Book 3) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Santana Hicks

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Between Darkness & Light (War of Destiny #3)Between Darkness & Light by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the first two books of this series immensely. This one is written so differently than the previous two but once again is a masterpiece.

Julia and her relationship with the Ka-tet is shattered after she betrayed them in the previous book. Especially her relationship with Matthew. She is basically disowned by him. Matthew has moved away from the others and started a new life on his own. When Julia’s leader disappears suddenly, she seeks out Matthew to help.

The author once again built an amazing world and the people within. Even though this book was significantly different, it still had me in a vice and I had to finish it! I enjoyed ‘watching’ Julia deal with the consequences and her feelings towards everything that has happened.

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Between Darkness & Light (War of Destiny Book 3) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Santana Hicks

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Between Darkness & Light (War of Destiny #3)Between Darkness & Light by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the first two books of this series immensely. This one is written so differently than the previous two but once again is a masterpiece.

Julia and her relationship with the Ka-tet is shattered after she betrayed them in the previous book. Especially her relationship with Matthew. She is basically disowned by him. Matthew has moved away from the others and started a new life on his own. When Julia’s leader disappears suddenly, she seeks out Matthew to help.

The author once again built an amazing world and the people within. Even though this book was significantly different, it still had me in a vice and I had to finish it! I enjoyed ‘watching’ Julia deal with the consequences and her feelings towards everything that has happened.

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Vive la Resistance (Donovan Trait Book 3) by Seelie Kay – Review by Santana Hicks

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Vive la ResistanceVive la Resistance by Seelie Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third book of the Donovan Trait series and it is just as good as the first two. Still in hiding Donovan and Shirley are raising their twins while trying to protect them and themselves for the coalition that wants to take away their children. Born behind the coalition’s back, the council did not take too lightly to it. The birth of the twins showed the other vampires that someone has been lying for years now they are covering their tracks.

Donovan and his family have declared war on the coalition. If they are going down, everyone is going down with them. The coalition retorted with genocide of any vampire who is not of pure blood. Everything seems to be working against the Trait family.

This book was by far the most action filled of the three. I was rooting for the Trait family from the very beginning. I love Donovan and Shirleys relationship. They are a power couple so in love. The twins are loved by all and have complete opposite personalities. They are an adorable family.

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Pursuit into Darkness (War of Destiny Book 2) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Santana Hicks

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Pursuit into Darkness (War of Destiny, #2)Pursuit into Darkness by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started reading this book with high expectations since I absolutely loved the first one of the series. Let me just say that the author did not disappoint!

You once again follow Julia except this time it is 70 years later than in the first book. The Ka-tet is as strong as it should be with their powers ever growing when Valentino decides to show up and take them all down. Samuel and Julia fear they have not had enough time to get strong enough to defeat Valentino so they decide to flee. That did not work so now the Ka-tet has to fight a very strong Valentino with little faith.

I honestly love this author’s writing. It is so dark and unpredictable. The book has a lot of action as well as twists and turns to keep you intrigued from start to finish. There is some romance and some heartbreak. What’s not to love? I highly recommend this series. Do read the first one before attempting this one though as it will be hard to follow without knowing the backstory.

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Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan Series Book 1) by Kate MacInnis – Review by Santana Hicks

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Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan #1)Distant Heart Sounds by Kate MacInnis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Morgan is a nurse who works in the ER department of a hospital. Due to a near death experience, she is noticing some weird things. Morgan can all of a sudden see and hear those others cannot. Since she works in a hospital, there are many dead people around and for some odd reason Morgan can detect when someone is about to die or has just died. She also can communicate with said “ghosts”. On top of that she can now see auras.

A new doctor starts working at the hospital. He is a dreamy breathtaking man named Caleb. Morgan notices him straight away and he notices her just as fast. It seems as if he has some abilities as well and realized that Morgan might too. They seem to constantly run into each other and have a strong magnetic tension between them as well.

I really enjoyed this book for multiple reasons. The utmost reason is the main character’s age. A lot of books focus on younger characters. Characters just entering adulthood seem to be the most popular. Morgan is almost 40 and has been in her field of work for 20 years making it much more relatable as an adult.

I also loved the banter. There was humour, drama, romance. I loved the way the author wrote Morgan with different relationships with her co-workers.

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Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse (The Forerunner Saga Book 1) by Jay Veloso Batista – Review By Santana Hicks

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Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse (The Forerunner Series #1)Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse by Jay Veloso Batista
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was enjoying the efforts that this author put into historical accuracy, up to and including the names of places, as well as the older spellings of some of the names from the Norse Gods. I found the intro to be something of a slow start, and you don’t quite start in the middle of it all, though it is close.

I found I had something of a mental disconnect for awhile before I started to properly grasp what was going on. I did enjoy seeing an author draw more openly from Norse mythological elements as opposed to the Greco-Roman style.

Personally I have been a long time fan of anything involving mythology, though it was a different take to see a child as the main character. Thorfinn does develop as a character quite a bit while coming to terms with his own strange abilities, as well as going up against the titular curse.

I would have loved to see a little more polish and coherence in the early novel, but other than that I didn’t have any significant gripes with the novel, and think many young readers could find hours of fun slipping inside this world. Subtly learning historical facts the whole while.

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A Long Kiss Goodbye (Onyx & Mercury Book 2) by H.D. Thomson – Review by Santana Hicks

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A Long Kiss GoodbyeA Long Kiss Goodbye by H.D. Thomson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Imagine going out one night with your friends to have a couple drinks then wake up naked in your bed the next day. Not knowing what happened, you start to panic. It feels like you’ve been hit by a truck but the last thing you remember is walking home from the previous night. That is exactly what happened to the main character of this book, Avery.

Avery decides to go to the hospital to get herself checked out. Struggling to the car, her next door neighbour, Luys, sees her and asks if she is okay. Looking like she’s about to pass out, he sweeps her up and drives her to the hospital.

Luys decides to keep an eye on her while she recovers but neither one of them know why. Before this incident, they barely spoke two words to each other but this circumstance brought them together. There is a strong will they won’t they vibe as you can feel the tension. Meanwhile Avery is trying to figure out what happened to her.

As more bodies start appearing, she feels like she is the target of a serial killer. Can she find out who the killer is before they come back to finish her off?

The author did an amazing job with this book. I was at the edge of my seat the whole way. Unpredictable twists and turns kept me guessing what would happen next. I could not put this book down.

The way the author described the world made everything so vivid. Avery’s character came to life.

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Coyote’s Road Trip by Laura Koerber – Review by Santana Hicks

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Coyote's Road TripCoyote’s Road Trip by Laura Koerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Coyote is a nature spirit who lived in the desert all his life. After climate change ruined what he remembers as home, Coyote decides to find his new home elsewhere. He jumps in his truck and just drives with a few different people to keep him company along the way. Coyote tries relentlessly to find where he belongs while fighting the urge to return back to what he is used to.

I really enjoyed the writing of this author. They have a way with words. The world building was portrayed amazingly. The way the author described all the different sceneries made me feel like I was actually looking at the same thing Coyote was.

This book is a dystopia set in the near future with hints of magic along the way. It was a calm short read and I would recommend settling in and reading this book.

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The Mind-Reading Hat (Invisible Magic Wand Series Book 6) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Santana Hicks

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The Mind-Reading Hat: Invisible Magic Wand Book SixThe Mind-Reading Hat: Invisible Magic Wand Book Six by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Caspian is celebrating his Unbirthday! His gifts included a fedora and a uniquely shaped rock. Once wearing the hat, he realizes he is hearing his mother and grandfather talking without them moving their mouths. Upon asking his family members why that is, he finds out that the hat is a mind reading hat and the rock is a thinking rock! He uses both items to find his next surprise!

I read this book to my son for his bedtime story tonight and he enjoyed it. Since this is the first book we have read from this series, my son and I were confused as to what an Unbirthday was. Other than that the book was exciting for young readers. My son now wants his own Unbirthday.

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