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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns Book 1) by Kay L. Moody – Review by Shai Flores

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns, #1)Flame and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not realize that this was a spinoff series by this author of a previous series. That being said, I had no problem understanding the story and it was easily read as a stand-alone series. I was drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover. Once I knew that it was a magical book about faeries, adventure, fighting for those you love, and a series that will continue, I was all in. I definitely felt some connections with the main character and how her life went down a different path than she expected. I am excited to see where the second book leads! I wish I lived in this magical world.

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Witch Switch (Bewitch Me Book 2) (in Midnight Magic Anthology) by Louisa Bacio – Review by Shai Flores

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Midnight MagicMidnight Magic by Gina Kincade
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Witch Switch by Louisa Bacio is one of the stories included in this collection. I enjoyed the basic plot of forbidden love, parents that don’t approve, a jealous ex, and a struggle to find oneself. I did wish that it was longer so that I could have appreciated all of the many aspects of this story. If this story is something you enjoy, there are other books in her series that focus on some of the supporting characters. I love a good paranormal romance and I liked the idea of the male and female powers being connected. I look forward to reading the other books in this collection since there seems to be something for everyone.

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reviewed by @puffprincess

Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephanie Wilson Peterson – Review by Shai Flores

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Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad DogToby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a cute story about a dog and the cat that lives next door. Toby is a good dog until the cat next door tricks him into misbehaving and getting into trouble around the neighborhood while his humans are away. I thought Toby was an adorable character and I liked the idea of the cat and dog interactions. The ending was a little open-ended for my preferences, but maybe this means there will be a whole series about Toby. I have to warn you that if your child is sensitive like mine was, or some of my students are, this book is a little harsh with some of the things the cat does and the repetitive use of “bad dog” for Toby. I would definitely recommend this book for upper elementary students rather than younger ones.

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Taming of the Few (Guardians of the PHAE Book 1) by Rowan Dillon – Review by Shai Flores

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Taming of the FewTaming of the Few by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was intrigued by this book because of the beautiful cover, as well as the fact that it takes place partly in Ireland which made it seem unique. I love the paranormal/fantasy genre and this book was full of interesting and original world-building. It was a lot of information to grasp, and I did have to go back and reread some things so I didn’t get confused on the characters or background information. I know that there is going to be another book (or more) so I am hoping that it will be a little easier to follow now that the characters have been explained.

I loved the idea of the individuals with special abilities having a place where they could be with other unique individuals in a place where they were safe and could learn about themselves. I thought a lot of the issues the characters had that came from being different could be connected to our world today, especially recently. I also am a teacher with anxiety about not always fitting in, so I connected with the main female character Anna a lot. I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series.

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reviewed by @puffprincess

A Veil of Gods and Kings (Apollo Ascending Book 1) by Nicole Bailey – Review by Shai Flores

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A Veil of Gods and Kings (Apollo Ascending, #1)A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! When I got to the end and realized that there was a cliffhanger, I was so bummed to have to wait—but then I saw that the next one comes out soon and that made me happy. I love Greek mythology and new versions of the old stories I have heard before. I am fascinated by the world of Olympus and the gods and goddesses that live there. This book tells the story of Apollo before he ascends, and his stay with Prince Hyacinth as demanded by his father Zeus. Apollo is a lovable character despite his flaws and the journey he goes on with Cin is page-turning. I also loved the supporting characters like Pip and Temi. There were some things that I expected to happen since I know the original stories of Apollo, but I definitely loved this retelling. I am very excited for the second book to be released!

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reviewed by @puffprincess

The Wish-Eater by Claire Luana – Review by Shai Flores

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The Wish-EaterThe Wish-Eater by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book that I have read by this author and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! The Wish-Eater is a story about wanting what you don’t or can’t have, and I think that theme is relatable to a lot of readers. The author’s writing style sucks you into the story with vivid, descriptive language and beautiful world-building. I thought this story had fairytale vibes and I absolutely loved that. I was so excited to see a new release from Claire Luana, although I still want to go back and read some of her older books as well. I highly recommend this book and it is one of my favorites this year so far.

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reviewed by @puffprincess

Unabridged (Lovestruck Series Book 2) by Melinda De Ross – Review by Shai Flores

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Unabridged (Smart & Sassy in the City, #2)Unabridged by Melinda De Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a fun read! I found Angelina to be relatable and enjoyed this romantic comedy from her point-of-view. I am jealous of her job getting to read books and review them for a living. I thought her chemistry with Blade was fantastic and their interactions were clever. This book was a perfect read to relax with after a busy day. If you enjoy second chance romances with a little bit of humor, you will enjoy this book!

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reviewed by @puffprincess

The Curse of a Faeblood by MK Lorber – Review by Shai Flores

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The Curse of a FaebloodThe Curse of a Faeblood by M.K. Lorber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I get so excited when I find new fantasy series involving fae and magical characters. I am especially excited because I am hoping this is a series that will last a few books. This was my first book by this author and I thought the writing style was descriptive and enchanting, drawing me in and making it difficult for me to put down. I loved the chemistry between the main characters, and I felt invested in the female main character’s journey. I appreciated her strength and tenacity, and I love an awesome female lead. I also found myself enjoying the supporting characters and hope that there is more on them in further books. I am excited for the next book to be released! I definitely recommend this one.

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reviewed by @puffprincess

Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Shai Flores

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Decisions and Possibilities (Notebook Mysteries #2)Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the second book in a YA mystery series in which a young woman living in the 19th century works to solve mysteries with the help of her friends. What I enjoyed about the story the most was that the main character, Emma, is strong-willed and curious while going outside of roles that females were traditionally limited by. I recommend this book and series to teens looking for a mix of historical fiction and mystery.

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reviewed by @puffprincess

Notebook Mysteries ~ Changes and Challenges (Notebook Mysteries Book 3) by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Shai Flores

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Changes and ChallengesNotebook Mysteries ~ Changes and Challenges by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I was younger, I really enjoyed reading books that had a young female detective that would solve mysteries. This new YA series reminds me of my love for that type of book mixed with historical fiction. This book is the 3rd in this series, and although it can be read as a stand-alone book, I do recommend reading the others first for small background details that help bring the story to life. I loved that the main character is bright, curious, and intelligent and goes against the norms for a female during that time period. I recommend this story for teens that are looking for a mix of a few genres and an enjoyable, easy-to-read story.

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reviewed by @puffprincess

The Wolf’s Shadow (The Lycanthropy Files Book 1) by Cecilia Dominic – Review by Shai Flores

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The Wolf's Shadow (The Lycanthropy Files #1)The Wolf’s Shadow by Cecilia Dominic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first book I have read by this author, but I am so glad that this is part of a series so that I can continue in the world that she created. The characters are multi-dimensional and kept me guessing, as well as the relationships and interactions between the characters. The world created was mysterious and intriguing, which made this book easy to read and hard to put down. I liked the combination of Sci-Fi, supernatural, and crime-solving thriller elements. I also really like it when the main character is a strong, educated female that is able to hold her own with a group of alpha males. I look forward to picking up the next book!

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reviewed by @puffprincess

Finding Melodie and The Wedding Special Boxset by Laura Rossi – Review by Shai Flores

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Melodie Boxset (Melodie #1-2)Melodie Boxset by Laura Rossi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This set of books was so fun to read! The stories were light-hearted and had wonderful characters that were lovable, witty, and simply enjoyable to follow. I connected to Melodie’s struggles as I had a similar struggle. I loved the chemistry between the two main characters and found myself not wanting to put these stories down. After an exhausting day at work, it was nice to be able to read something that was easy to enjoy. I definitely recommend both of these books! Sometimes sequels aren’t as good as the first book, but if anything I think I liked the second one even more than the first!

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Reviewed by @puffprincess

The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas – Review by Shai Flores

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The Scent of GardeniasThe Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this historical fiction story from the beginning to the end, but I have to admit after reading the author’s note at the end, I had an even greater appreciation for it. I recommend this book and I definitely think everyone that reads it should read the author’s note at the end. As a single mom, I felt very invested in Margaret’s journey and found myself wanting her to succeed. This was the first book from this author that I have read, and I thought she did a wonderful job of creating lovable characters that the reader could connect with. I love historical fiction, so I also really liked the story building using the historical events that shaped the life of the main character. I also really loved that despite the good ending, not everything ended tied up in a pretty bow, and that made it realistic to me. Not everything in life will turn out how you want or hope it will, but hopefully, it still turns out to be full of love and happiness.

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Spring’s Calling (Seasons of Magic Book 1) by Sarah Biglow – Review by Shai Flores

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Spring's Calling (Seasons of Magic, #1)Spring’s Calling by Sarah Biglow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book a lot! It gave me some “Charmed” vibes with a cop with supernatural powers due to her being a witch and the Savior that will be faced with an upcoming event in which she has to save the world. I liked the characters and was quickly invested in their journeys. I really enjoyed the main character Ezri’s backstory and thought that this was a unique take on a character that is a witch since there was no silly family or familiar causing drama or interference. I would have given this 5 stars, but I thought the ending was rushed and a few of the explanations didn’t seem to fit, which made me sad since I absolutely loved the first 90% of the book. Looking forward to future books in this series, however!

reviewed by @puffprincess
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The-Know-It-All-Pencil (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review By Shai Flores

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The Know-It-All PencilThe Know-It-All Pencil by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this children’s book. I loved the diversity of the characters and I loved the idea of the unbirthday gift. As a parent, we always celebrate my son’s half-birthday! I am a teacher and could really see how useful this book could be in the classroom to show students how you can start with a simple, common object and use it to create a whole story around. This story would be great to use with children 3-6 as a fun read-aloud or for slightly older children if teaching a creative writing lesson.

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reviewed by @puffprincess

The Last Cabin Girl (Detective Josie Thompson Series) by Tom Swyers – Review by Shai Flores

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The Last Cabin GirlThe Last Cabin Girl by Tom Swyers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This psychological thriller was a unique read for me for two main reasons. The first is that it takes place during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is fascinating how fictional it all sounds until you remember that we just survived these exact feelings, worries, thoughts, opinions, and events. I think it will be interesting to see more books written like this. I felt like I could connect the people in my life with the various reactions that the characters in the book had. The second reason is that the ending was very different from what I was expecting. I can usually solve a book before the ending, but this one threw me unexpectedly. I had a lot of it figured out, but the one piece that changed everything. I love books like that because then I want to reread it to look for clues that I might have missed.

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reviewed by @puffprincess

Weep, Woman, Weep: A Gothic Fairytale about Ancestral Hauntings by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Shai Flores

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Weep, Woman, WeepWeep, Woman, Weep by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! It was short, and I honestly would have given it 5 stars if it could’ve been longer so that more detail could have been given for some of the events, but I still recommend it. I was looking for something different than other books I have been reading lately and this did not disappoint.

One of the things that I enjoyed about this book the most was the magical language used in the descriptions. I could see the vivid images in my head and some of them made me laugh or smile. One of my favorite lines in the book was “the mountains just behind the Rio Grande that turned pink and red like a schoolgirl thinking dirty thoughts when the sun rose and set each day”. As a person who has lived in the southwestern part of the United States, I absolutely loved this description!

For a quick, magical read, I highly recommend this book!

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reviewed by @puffprincess

The Prisoner of the Dead (Dead World Book 1) by Megan Mackie – Review by Shai Flores

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The Prisoner of the Dead: Zombie Thriller Dystopia (Dead World Book 1)The Prisoner of the Dead: Zombie Thriller Dystopia by Megan Mackie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love reading dystopian/apocalyptic stories, especially if it involves zombies! Despite this love, a lot of zombie books/movies/shows are quite similar. What I liked about this book was that the author included a few unique twists that made it unlike other zombie books that I have read recently. One of the main characters, Baron, has a fascinating role in the background of the story and as things are revealed about his life, it builds suspense and clues about the virus that is creating havoc in the world. Throw in some immortals, magic, and action to create this interesting world that I had difficulty putting down once I started.

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The Thunderbird Academy Trilogy by Valia Lind – Review by Shai Flores

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The Thunderbird Academy TrilogyThe Thunderbird Academy Trilogy by Valia Lind
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this trilogy! I am always happy when I start reading a series of books where I can already have my hands on all 3 books. I read this on my kindle as one big book and got caught up in the story. It had a mix of paranormal romance, magic, suspense, and action. The author did a great job creating the world and the characters were really well developed. By the time I was finishing the first part, I was invested in both the story and the characters. I had no problem reading this as a standalone series, but I know that she has written more books that I look forward to reading that are connected to this world.

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Kiss of the Swan by Natalina Reis – Review by Shai Flores

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Kiss of the SwanKiss of the Swan by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first book I had read from this author, but I really enjoy new versions and twists on old fairytales. This story is a mash-up of Sleeping Beauty, a Hans Christian Anderson story, and a Grimm fairy tale. I enjoyed the new take on these stories and the way the author combined them into this unique version. For fans of fantasy and fairytales, there are so many wonderful elements to this story: a clever witch, an evil villain, a violent king, a kind-hearted hero, a brave queen, and magical shapeshifters. I highly recommend this story, but I do want to include a trigger warning since the story does include brief snippets of the king’s violence against women. I read this in one day and did not want to put it down! I look forward to reading more stories from this author.

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reviewed by @puffprincess

Depending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall – Review by Shai Flores

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Depending On YouDepending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So many stories about true soulmate love are romantic, but this beautiful story is about how a best friend can be your soulmate. This story reminded me of the relationship that I have with my best friend. This book is about two best friends that have to deal with life’s hardships, both together and separately, and how real friendship lasts through it all. Although I figured out most of the plot twist fairly early on, I was still slightly surprised at the very end. I loved the way it ended and I would definitely recommend this book as a feel-good story. This was the first book I have read by this author, but I would definitely read more from her.

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Unlock the Angel (Seraphim Angel Order 1) by Calla Zae – Review by Shai Flores

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Unlock the Angel (Seraphim Angel Order, #1)Unlock the Angel by Calla Zae
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love romance stories that involve the battle between good and evil, with some magic, danger, and suspense mixed in. This book did not disappoint in any of these areas! This was the first book I have read by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last. The characters were relatable despite it being a paranormal romance and the author’s way of describing the world they live in keeps the reader turning pages to see what happens. The chemistry between the main characters had me invested in the story and in their relationship. This is the first book in this series, and I am looking forward to reading the next one, as well as other books written by this author. The beautiful, vivid language in this book is a must-have for any fantasy fan.

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Midnight Masquerade (The Brightly Sisters Book 1) by Halley Larkin – Review by Shai Flores

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Midnight Masquerade (The Brightley Sisters Book 1)Midnight Masquerade by Halley Larkin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that the beautiful cover made me want to read this book. I am a huge fan of historical fiction, especially from this era. This story takes place in the 1800s and all of the elements that a reader could want are included: mystery, romance, politics, danger, societal drama, and historical background. This story caught my interest quickly and the writing was as beautiful as the cover. It was extremely hard to put down! I found myself connecting with the main character, Charmaine, and her struggle between what she wants and her responsibilities. Despite the story taking place in a very different world than the one I live in, I often feel this way as well. A good author makes the characters relatable, which causes the reader to become invested. This is the first book in this series and I look forward to reading the next one.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Shai Flores

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The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am an avid reader and I absolutely love fantasy books, but this is easily one of the best ones I have read. The Mesmerist takes place in a fantasy world that is beautifully created in the first few chapters of the book while introducing a diverse cast of characters. Jana, the main character, is loveable and complex in a way that I could connect with. I connected with her sense of adventure and wanting to explore the bigger world around her rather than just her family farm. I found myself trying to solve the mystery that surrounded her, but I also enjoyed the other aspects of the story. One of the things that I enjoy most about fantasy books is the ability to escape, and The Mesmerist definitely allowed me an escape from daily life. Once I started it, I had a difficult time putting it down!

This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last! I plan on reading her previous books and I am hoping for a sequel to this one! I absolutely recommend this book for both young adults and older. It is a beautiful story in a world that I hope we see again!

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Reviewed by @puffprincess