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Defying Ella (True Platinum Series Book 4) by Morgana Bevan – Review by Shai Flores

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Defying EllaDefying Ella by Morgana Bevan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but this was an easy-to-understand stand-alone book so it wasn’t an issue. I also want to go back and read the previous 3 books. This was an enjoyable enemies-to-lovers story with a rock star and the patient woman that has to deal with him. I took a little bit to get into it, but I finished it quickly once I did.

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Hate You Later (Lit Lovers Series Book 1) by Ciara Blume – Review by Shai Flores

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Hate You Later (Lit Lovers, #1)Hate You Later by Ciara Blume
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I saw that this was a rom-com that involved pet owners I knew I needed to read it! It did not disappoint and was a quick, fun read. I thought the banter between the characters was great and I liked the background characters as well. Looking forward to book 2!

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Cooked: The Chef Blows Her Lid by Cari Schaeffer – Review by Shai Flores

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Cooked: The Chef Blows Her LidCooked: The Chef Blows Her Lid by Cari Schaeffer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun, easy-to-read book with an awesome female main character–what else could you want? I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and loved that I hadn’t completely predicted the ending. This was my first book by this author but look forward to more in the future!

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Grave Digger Academy II (Grave Digger Academy Book 2) by C.A. King – Review by Shai Flores

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Grave Digger Academy IIGrave Digger Academy II by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes second books in a series don’t live up to the quality of the first book, but I thought the author did a good job making the transition feel smooth. I thought the second book was just as enjoyable as the first. It was nice to already have an understanding of the main characters and basic plot, but getting to see the growth into the second year was interesting. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

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We Blend (Falling for the Rockstar’s Daughter Book 1) by Willa Drew – Review by Shai Flores

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WE Blend (Falling for the Rockstar's Daughter Series #1)WE Blend by Willa Drew
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this romance. It was easy to read and quickly sucked me into the story. The characters were easily related to. I thought it was funny and emotional, but not overly dramatic. It had elements that were realistic, while still having parts that allowed for fantasy/daydream type of scenarios. This is a good choice if you like a slow burn, friends-to-lovers type of quick read. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

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Grave Digger Academy (Grave Digger Academy Book 1) by C.A. King – Review by Shai Flores

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Grave Digger AcademyGrave Digger Academy by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this quick read about a girl that finds herself at a magical school. It had elements that reminded me of the Mortal Instruments, Harry Potter, or House of Night vibes. It was magical with a hint of dark lore and I loved that the undead was a part of the story as well. This was definitely a fun, easy-to-read book that left me wanting to read the next book to answer some of my questions.

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Necrosis by C.L. Schneider – Review by Shai Flores

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NecrosisNecrosis by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book by this author but won’t be my last! I liked that this book was dark and emotional, set in a zombie apocalypse world. The main character, a single mom, trying to keep herself and her daughter alive connected with me. I love to see a strong single mom character. This book was an enjoyable read if you are ok with books that are on the darker side.

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Fractured Worlds: Courage in the Apocalypse by Courtney Konstantin – Review by Shai Flores

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Fractured World: Courage in the Apocalypse CollectionFractured World: Courage in the Apocalypse Collection by Maira Dawn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It has been a long time since I read a collection like this, but I remembered what I love about it. This collection supports an important charity which I also really liked. This collection is all based on post-apocalyptic tales, which is one of my favorite genres. I loved the different approaches each author took and the variety in writing styles. If you love zombie apocalypse or survivor-type stories, I would definitely encourage you to check this out.

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River Witch by Cheryl Burman – Review by Shai Flores

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River WitchRiver Witch by Cheryl Burman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought this was an easy-to-read, enjoyable book. I loved the twists and turns, with some fantasy, mythological, and historical elements. The world-building was fantastic and I absolutely loved this author’s writing style!

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Jester by Brielle D. Porter – Review by Shai Flores

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

I don’t give 5 stars very often, but I really loved this book. It drew me in immediately and the world-building was fascinating. I found the characters interesting and felt invested in Lis’s journey from the beginning. Although it had some familiar tropes, I found it to be a beautifully written original story.

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Ashes (Modern-Day Fairy Tale Book 1) by MK Harkins – Review by Shai Flores

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Ashes (Modern-Day Fairy Tale, #1)Ashes by M.K. Harkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Overall I liked this book. I really liked the story idea of twisting a classic fairytale. I was drawn to this book because I love twisted fairytales and the cover is beautiful. Parts of it were a little awkward, but I would definitely read more by this author, especially if they were more twisted fairytales!

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Ritual Obsession (Blood Obsession Book 1) by R.L. Dunn – Review by Shai Flores

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Ritual Obsession (Blood Obsession Book 1)Ritual Obsession by R.L. Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Before reading make sure to read the trigger warning**

I enjoyed this first book in a new series by an author I had never read before. It ends in a suspenseful way and I will definitely want to know what happens next. It was a quick, easy read that kept me engaged.

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Stitch by Stitch by Marie-Therese Hernon – Review by Shai Flores

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

This was a great easy-to-read cozy mystery. The main character is a single mom finding herself and overcoming flaws as she deals with situations after her divorce. I connected a lot with her and I thought the author did a great job bringing her to life. This was a fast, enjoyable summer read for me.

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The Girl Who Escaped by Mark Nolan – Review by Shai Flores

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The Girl Who EscapedThe Girl Who Escaped by Mark Nolan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love a book with an awesome dog that does not die during the book! I enjoyed the dynamic between Cody and Jake and all the good they do in the story. The world needs more characters like that. If you enjoy books with mystery, crime-fighting, and a strong female lead you will like this book. I thought the writing, in the beginning, was a little awkward and some of the aspects of the island situation were a little farfetched, but it was definitely original and interesting to consider. I did appreciate the ending.

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Key to His Heart by Kristina Beck – Review by Shai Flores

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Key To His HeartKey To His Heart by Kristina Beck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I first started reading it, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about some of the unrealistic elements of the story, but I ended up loving it! A romance with a twist was enjoyable, but what I liked the most was actually the characters. The characters felt alive and I became invested. I felt like I knew them like I know my own friends, and I would love it if there were other books about some of the extended family members or even the future of TJ, Kat, and Toby. I will definitely be looking into some of her other books as this was the first one that I have read by this author.

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Love in the Roses (Love Through the Ages Book 1) by TL Clark – Review by Shai Flores

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Love in the RosesLove in the Roses by T.L. Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, so I was very excited to read this book. I especially love books, TV shows, and movies that have to do with royalty and medieval times, and this book had both. The language is beautiful and you can tell the author did the research. I appreciated that there was an introduction to the time period to remind or teach readers about the time period in which the story took place. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys romance stories or historical fiction. The cover is beautiful as well. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

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The Lie That Binds by Amy Argent – Review by Shai Flores

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

This is the story of two teenagers that seem to be very different but end up having more in common than they thought. This was my first book by this author, and although it is not normally a genre I read since it is about teenagers in high school, I thought that it was well written and a beautiful story. Parts of it were predictable, but I really enjoyed the visibility and representation it gives to individuals with medical conditions that make their lives more difficult. There are some mature scenes in the book, but I think it touches on so many important topics for teenagers and the adults in the lives of teens (teachers, school staff, parents, etc) such as bullying, medical disabilities, friendship, courage, peer pressure, and depression. I definitely recommend this book and it was a quick, enjoyable read.

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The Letter Carrier by L.C. Lewis – Review by Shai Flores

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The Letter CarrierThe Letter Carrier by Laurie L.C. Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, especially books focused on the WWII era. Although I mostly read books that are focused on the Jewish side of WWII, I have recently enjoyed reading books that focus on other groups that were forced to live through this war without being Nazis. This was the first book that I have read from this particular author, although the topic is one of my favorites, but I found the writing to be vivid, interesting, and well researched. The characters touched me and I felt like I was in the story. This was a quick read for me, but definitely a worthwhile one. I recommend books like this to everyone, regardless of where they live. I would read another book from this author in the future.

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Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Shai Flores

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Murder in the Lightning RoomMurder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love historical fiction and mysteries, so this book was definitely something in my normal genre. I liked that there were real people in the story that I could connect with what I know about historical figures, but put an original twist on it. I liked that it kept me on the edge of my seat and made it hard to put down. I found myself invested in what would happen next to the characters, especially Cora. This was the first book I read from this author, but I look forward to reading more.

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Enemies of Doves by Shanessa Gluhm – Review by Shai Flores

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Enemies of DovesEnemies of Doves by Shanessa Gluhm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a fan of historical fiction and thrillers, this book did not disappoint. The cover is beautiful to start. I am a teacher so I like to support other teachers. I was hooked quickly by the vivid language the author uses. The story is told using an alternate timeline floating between modern times and WWII era, which doesn’t bother me as a reader. I thought the characters were interesting and felt the author did a great job capturing both settings and the relationship between the characters. I found myself not wanting to put it down. Mystery books often are easy to figure out the twists, but this one kept me guessing much longer than usual. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

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Taylor’s Law by Jennifer Raines – Review by Shai Flores

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Taylor's LawTaylor’s Law by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this quick read by Jennifer Raines. It was my first of her books, but I would definitely read more. This contemporary romance had lovable characters that you become invested in. There is a unique twist to the story and I loved the setting of the book, which was also unique to my experiences as a reader in the US. As someone with a sister and a nephew of my own, I connected to the story and found myself hoping for a happy ending. Great summer read!

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The Blood Prince by Ayla Marie – Review by Shai Flores

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The Blood PrinceThe Blood Prince by Ayla Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was drawn in by the beautiful cover and intriguing title. I loved that the story was told from more than one character’s perspective. I thought the language was vivid and entertaining. I had trouble putting it down which is always a sign of a good read for me. I look forward to reading more books in this series and from this author. I definitely recommend this book!

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The Secret Cure: A Gripping Psychological Thriller with a Twist by JD Spero – Review by Shai Flores

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The Secret CureThe Secret Cure by J.D. Spero
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book by this author, but I look forward to reading other books after this one. This adult novel features a strong female character lead, but I also appreciated the other characters. I thought the story was well-developed and exciting. It is definitely a page-turner and an easy read that is perfect for summer relaxation. I had a hard time putting it down once I started it.

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

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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: 4 of 5 stars

I love reading books that are unique retellings of stories that I love, especially fairytale-type stories. This is an imaginative book with Alice in Wonderland vibes that hooked me with magic, mystery, and mayhem. I found myself wanting to know what the characters would do next and felt very invested in the main female character. This was the first book I read by this author and I look forward to reading more. I found this to be an easy, enjoyable read.

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Queen of Hearts (Heels, Rhymes & Nursery Crimes Vol. 21) By Natalina Reis – Review by Shai Flores

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Queen of Hearts (Heels, Rhymes & Nursery Crimes, #21)Queen of Hearts by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this novella. It is part of the Heels, Rhymes, and Nursery Crimes series, but I had not read any of the other books. I actually did not realize it was part of a series until I had gotten it on my Kindle. I was drawn to the book because of the gorgeous cover and it did not disappoint. This quick, fun read puts a twist on a commonly known villain, the Queen of Hearts. She is truly a hero in disguise as she works to avenge the women of the city and retaliate against the men that harm them. A strong female lead character, a mysterious man, a brave goal, and a sinister villain are elements that help make this a great read.

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Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan Series Book 1) by Kate MacInnis – Review by Shai Flores

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Distant Heart Sounds (Nurse Morgan #1)Distant Heart Sounds by Kate MacInnis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this fun, easy-to-read book that combined fun with a little bit of a ghost story. I felt like it was a little bit “Grey’s Anatomy” combined with a little bit of “Ghost Whisperer”. If you are a fan of either of those TV shows like I am, this will be a great choice for a summer read! The characters were well-developed without slowing down the story, and I found myself putting myself in Morgan’s shoes which to me is the sign of a well-written character. I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series!

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

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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 love finding a new series to read! At first I didn’t realize this was a series that was already more than one book long and as I finished this, I found myself wanting to know when the next one was being released. I was really excited to see there are more books already. I am definitely going to be starting the next one asap! This is the story of a boy in 9th century England who finds himself cursed by a witch and living in 2 worlds. It is a combination of historical fiction, fantasy, and ghost story! As a teacher, I thought of a lot of people that would enjoy this book and plan on recommending it to some of my previous students. It was an easy-to-read, original story that kept me turning the pages for sure!

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Deadly Sommer (Nora Sommer Caribbean Suspense Book 1) by Nicholas Harvey: Review by Shai Flores

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Deadly Sommer (Nora Sommer #1)Deadly Sommer by Nicholas Harvey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book by this author, although I see that he has other series that have a similar vibe so I am definitely going to check those out. One of the things that I loved about this book was the strong female character. I love reading about female detectives that get the job done and the mysteries solved, which comes all the way from my childhood reading Nancy Drew books. I think it is so important for authors to write independent, capable female characters across all genres. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys mystery series. It kept me interested from the beginning to the end and made me want to go to the beach!

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar – Review by Shai Flores

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Ancient Reflections: A Mythic TrilogyAncient Reflections: A Mythic Trilogy by Tamara Agha-Jaffar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a retelling of 3 historical stories with a fresh twist and perspective. I loved the unique spins on classics. I had heard versions of 2 of the 3 of them, but it was still interesting to read a new version. I was drawn to read this book because I love mythology and I love when stories are retold by different character POV. I found these stories easy to read and full of adventure, independence, courage, and determination. If you enjoy a good monsters vs gods story, this book will be worth reading.

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The True Purpose of Vines (The Winemakers Book 1) by Giovanna Siniscalchi – Review by Shai Flores

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The True Purpose of VinesThe True Purpose of Vines by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book had so many of my favorite elements: historical fiction, amazing food, powerful love, beautiful culture, powerful emotions, and vivid language. The author did a great job with the beautiful descriptions and I felt like I was transported into the 1800s and into this gorgeous, exotic place (compared to where I live haha). The characters were complex and I am so glad that this is going to be a series. I have never read a book by this author, so hoping to find more to read. I will definitely be reading the next book!

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