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Planting Hope by Jennifer Raines – Review by Shannen Kern

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Planting HopePlanting Hope by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a cute contemporary romance! I have read books by this author before, and I have come to enjoy this her work. She takes you on an emotional ride, but still captures the essence of the characters which invests you in them quickly. I picked this up because the cover was cute, and I love gardening so it felt like something I would relate to. I really liked the Australian slang that was thrown in as I have family there, so it made me feel even more at home. If you are looking for a great contemporary romance to read in your cozy book nook this afternoon, I highly recommend picking this one up!

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Taz (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter Book 3) by D.M. Earl – Review by Shannen Kern

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Taz: (Devil's Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter)Taz: by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my favorite MC series I’ve ever read! What an absolutely amazing third installment! With each book we learn a little more about another member of the Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter of the Devil’s Handmaidens MC, and I’ve yet to find one thing wrong with these books. The flow is superb, the characters are top-notch and relatable, and their personal lives are detailed in such a realistic way. I was instantly in Taz’s world and experiencing her emotions on such a deep level. She also has that momma bear vibe that I think resonates with all parents everywhere. You’ll do anything necessary to protect your little ones. I love reading about this MC and the way they have each other’s backs no matter what. The next book feels so far away, but I know it’s undoubtedly worth the wait. Please catch up with this series before the next release or you’ll find yourself binge-reading from the very beginning!

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Shadow (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter Book 2) by D.M. Earl – Review by Shannen Kern

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Shadow: (Devil's Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter)Shadow: by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blown away again by this author. They quickly made my list of top authors to read, and I can’t wait to get my hands on more of their genius work! Shadow had such an incredibly rough childhood, to say the least. To read about her tremendous tenacity was so inspiring, and their goal as an MC to stop human trafficking touches my heart. I loved to see her still trying to reach that romantic part of her soul through all the tragedy she’s encountered. The flow of this story matches the first, so please pick it up if you haven’t already because they do build upon each other. Plus, once you read one of this author’s books, you’ll immediately jump in to grab more. I can’t wait to see what this series brings next!

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Tink (Devil’s Handmaidens MC Book 1) by D.M. Earl – Review by Shannen Kern

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Tink: (Devil's Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter)Tink: by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have never read a book that made me want to be in an MC as badly as this one! I love a good MC and read them regularly, but this author has blown everyone else out of the water. Tink is bad to the bone and can back up her bark. I truly love that her main mission is eradicating human trafficking bit by bit. I enjoyed how real the characters feel. They aren’t painted as perfect and have this whole “take me as I am” vibe and I am HERE for it. The flow of this story was absolutely perfect. I am so excited to read more in this series!

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Complicated Choices by Risa Nyman – Review by Shannen Kern

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Complicated ChoicesComplicated Choices by Risa Nyman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am left in such awe of how much this book pulled at my heartstrings! At first glance, it can sound like just a drama-filled story that has an obvious solution, but the author truly paints vivid imagery with such emotion that I shed tears more than once. Claire is such a strong young woman who is left with impossible and complex choices, but obviously has to choose. There is talk about mental health, teenage coming-of-age, friendship, and family issues. The author did a spectacular job bringing these characters to full-blown life for me as I was completely and utterly invested in what Claire was going to do and how she was going to pull it off. I am already looking to pick up other books from this author. I highly recommend picking this one up with an open mind and getting blown away by the brilliance of it all!

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Oscar and Emmy Gain a Friend by Terri Sabol – Review by Shannen Kern

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Oscar and Emmy Gain a Friend: A Story About Trap-Neuter-ReturnOscar and Emmy Gain a Friend: A Story About Trap-Neuter-Return by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the first book I’d read in the Oscar and Emmy series, and it turned out to be so wonderful! It was beautifully illustrated and contained such great information about Trap-Neuter-Return. My family is full of animal lovers, so this was right up our alley. I read it with my 7-year-old and 11-year-old, and we all came away with something new and useful. I think it’s crucial in educating everyone about stray and feral cats. I have already picked up several of the other books in the series. I highly recommend picking this up and sharing with the younger ones in your life!

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The Sisterhood of Secrets (The Gods’ Scion Book 4) by Winnifred Tataw – Review by Shannen Kern

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The Sisterhood of SecretsThe Sisterhood of Secrets by Winnifred Tataw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really good YA fantasy to fill my downtime with. I’ve read other books by this author and always seem to enjoy myself, so I didn’t hesitate to pick this one up. I liked the relatable characters and the detail throughout this story. I would recommend picking up the previous books in the series as they build upon each other, and you risk not fully capturing the essence of the book without them. The author expertly crafts a world that is full of secrets and seems to expand with each chapter. The flow of the story felt a little odd at times and it snapped me out of the adventure a bit, but overall, I really enjoyed myself. I plan on following this author’s work in the future!

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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Shannen Kern

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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights, #1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WOW. This was an incredibly captivating read! I was wrapped up in a matter of minutes listening to Victoria and Login describe their past and present back and forth. I always enjoy multiple points of view, so this was right up my alley. There are some less than loveable characters here and a few difficult scenes, but they do add depth to the story. I became so invested in both Vic and Lo quickly and felt their emotions as my own. The author did a great job writing a gripping storyline. The flow can feel a little unnatural during a couple scenes of the book, but overall, it was a gripping thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I don’t want to give away any of the twists and turns, so just pick it up and give it a go!

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Hole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff – Review by Shannen Kern

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Hole in the RockHole in the Rock by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think the author did an absolutely marvelous job capturing the middle-schooler mentality. My daughter is 11 years old, and she really related to Lizzie! Even though it was written with her age in mind, I definitely enjoyed it as well. I loved Lizzie’s fiery and passionate personality as well as her dedication to the animals she feels so strongly about. At times I thought, “What are these parents even doing?” but I feel that really ties into the mentality of a middle schooler. Again, I think the author did a spectacular job bringing that through process out for this age group. I highly recommend picking it up and giving it a go with the young one in your life!

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Forbidden Blood (The Shadow Chronicles Book 4) by CR Robertson – Review by Shannen Kern

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Forbidden Blood (The Shadow Chronicles Book 4)Forbidden Blood by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved every single bit of the previous three books in this series, so when I found out there was a fourth installment, I was over the MOON excited! The previous focused on Tasha and Levi, so this one was a nice expansion of Kimber and Fabian. Kimber is Tasha’s little sister who has always felt like an outcast. Fabian is a dreamboat in her eyes. I really enjoyed seeing them grow alongside each other as the action-packed storyline took us on a crazy adventure. Though you may be able to enjoy this as a standalone, I HIGHLY recommend picking up the previous books as they do build upon each other. This author has quickly become one of my very favorites and I bet you’ll feel the same. She has a way of pulling you in with her captivating writing style, and never lets go as the flow of the story just takes you away. I cannot wait to see where we go from here!

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Forbidden Moon (The Shadow Chronicles Book 3) by CR Robertson – Review by Shannen Kern

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Forbidden MoonForbidden Moon by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This has become my favorite paranormal series, bar none. I found myself reading as quickly as I could to see what happens, and then going back to read slower to really soak in Tasha and Levi’s adventures. If you’ve found this book first somehow, please pick up the first two because the story is definitely a progression through each read. You won’t regret picking them up either because they are simply fantastic. If you thought you could pin down every paranormal romance, this author will prove you wrong QUICKLY. I absolutely loved the action-packed scenes combined with the magnificent chemistry that jumps straight off the pages. I highly recommend picking this series up if you love paranormal romance, but even if you don’t I beg that you give it a chance!

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Forbidden Mate (The Shadow Chronicles Book 2) by CR Robertson – Review by Shannen Kern

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Forbidden MateForbidden Mate by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Most of the time a second book will make or break a series, and this continuation has blown me AWAY! It picks up the story like no time has passed and I dove in headfirst. I read this in one sitting because I couldn’t pull myself away! I love how this author has such a way of writing that you just can’t predict where the story is heading next. I can’t get enough of Tasha and Levi. The flow of the book is absolutely flawless and never felt a lull. Buckle in because we are amping up the adventure in this installment. I cannot wait to grab up the next book in this series to find out what happens next with our lovely MCs. I highly recommend this series so far!

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Forbidden Wolf (The Shadow Chronicles Book 1) by CR Robertson – Review by Shannen Kern

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Forbidden WolfForbidden Wolf by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you pass this book up because you judge it by its cover/synopsis (you know better!) you will miss out terribly! While this genre is a very popular one with most of the books having somewhat of a cookie cutter approach, this book stands out in the paranormal romance crowd. The author does such a fantastic job pulling you into the world of lycans and vampires. I felt like I was experiencing the story instead of reading it, which is incredibly hard to accomplish with paranormal books in my opinion. I’m already on my way to pick up the second book in the series!

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Love, Only Better (Bold Journeys Book 1) by Paulette Stout – Review by Shannen Kern

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Love, Only BetterLove, Only Better by Paulette Stout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was my first book from this author, but I’m looking forward to more from her. While it can feel a little slow in the beginning, you’ll be smart to keep going as it tells such a beautifully relatable story for women everywhere. Rebecca has been made to feel that she’s unworthy or even worse, that she’s somehow a failure as a woman. As you can imagine, that takes such an unbelievable toll on your psyche. She somehow keeps some sort of motivation which rewards her with a drool-worthy neighbor, and this is where I started to swoon as it turned into a nice romance. This book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and is well worth the read. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series!

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Oathbreakers Anonymous by Scott Warren – Review by Shannen Kern

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Oathbreakers AnonymousOathbreakers Anonymous by Scott Warren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m really not sure how I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I am SO glad that part of my life is over! I stayed up reading this book because I couldn’t put it down to do anything (sorry chores) and I don’t regret one bit of it. The way they pull you into the story is subtle but irreversible. The humor throughout this book will have you laughing out loud and disturbing your family members. The world is so beautifully crafted and vivid that I felt like I was on the adventure with Marluck and the Oathbreakers myself. Even if this doesn’t seem like your type of book, do yourself a favor and pick it up. You will find yourself enjoying it before you know what happened, so say goodbye to your to-do list for the day. I’m off to find more of this author’s books!

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Shannen Kern

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The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a magnificent start to the series! I absolutely love our main character, Julia, as she is a strong, no-nonsense female lead. She has endured many hardships in her life, but she never lets that stop her. I was pulled in from the very first chapter and couldn’t read fast enough to see what would happen next! I feel like the characters meshed perfectly and the flow of the story read so naturally. I can’t wait to continue this series as this author has already proved that they know exactly what their audiences wants. I highly recommend picking this up and giving it a chance, especially if you like sci-fi/supernatural thrillers!

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Sleeping with the Enemy (Astoria Royals Book 3) by Deborah Garland – Review by Shannen Kern

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Sleeping with the Enemy (Astoria Royals, #3)Sleeping with the Enemy by Deborah Garland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always love this author’s books, and this dark romance is no different. You jump immediately into a tense situation in the very beginning, and it only gets more interesting from there. You can feel the chemistry between Riordan and Priscilla which gets steamier by the second. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this whole book with the drama, violence, and heated scenes full of passion. This author has such a way of writing that will hold your attention from the very first page to the very last. She knows exactly how to keep you engaged, not to mention creating a perfect story flow. I found myself completely invested in these characters just mere minutes after being introduced to them. If you love dark mafia romances, don’t pass on this on or you’ll definitely regret it!

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple Machines (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shannen Kern

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Goldilocks and the Six Simple MachinesGoldilocks and the Six Simple Machines by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My kiddos always love it when I bring home a book by this author because they are always so fun! This one is a fun retelling of a classic children’s story with a nice change in character for Goldilocks. Instead of coming in and haphazardly going through the three bears’ house, she fixes items in their house! It is an interesting focus on STEM which we love in our house. The illustrations were simple and seemed almost like watercolors which was refreshing as they weren’t overwhelming with too many details. I also liked that the font would sometimes change to describe the words which I hadn’t seen before. We really enjoyed this book, and it sparked some creative ideas for both of my kids to see what they could ‘fix’ around the house with simple machines!

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Tempting Fate (Black Shamrocks MC: Australia Book 1) by Bella Faust – Review by Shannen Kern

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Tempting Fate: a dark and angsty love triangle romance (Black Shamrocks MC: Australia Book 1)Tempting Fate: a dark and angsty love triangle romance by Bella Faust
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn’t realize there was a prequel to this book, so I doubled back and read it quickly. The sleep I lost while staying up reading these books was well worth it, and I would do it again in a heartbeat! My emotions didn’t know which way to go as I was pulled in every direction the entire time. It is intense, dangerous, romantic, steamy, and traumatic. I’ve never experienced such all encompassing emotions throughout one book and was completely taken by surprise multiple times. I am so fully invested in these characters, and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

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The Book of Hours (Coin/Hours Duology Book 2) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Shannen Kern

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The Book of Hours (Coin/Hours Cycle 2)The Book of Hours by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an absolutely suspenseful romance that is 100% worth the read! I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. The beginning is a little bit slow, but the overall flow of the story is still magnificent. Don’t let the slow start fool you as it will have you turning pages as quickly as you can shortly after. The love story of Gabriela and Richard is intense, passionate, and full of surprises! I don’t want to give an inkling of anything away (you’ll thank me later) therefore I will just give a strong recommendation to give this book a chance so you can fall in love with it too!

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Broken. (Green St. Girls Series) by N.D. Jackson – Review by Shannen Kern

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Broken. (Green St. Girls #2)Broken. by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I knew that having loved the first book in the series that it was going to be a challenge to follow it up, but N.D. Jackson knows EXACTLY what they’re doing here! The author provided such a perfect second installment with vivid imagery and beautifully written descriptions of scenes, so much so that I felt transported to this world. I was completely captivated once again and fell in love with Indigo and Gideon. I highly recommend picking up the first book before reading this one just to gain some of the depth you’d miss without it. You won’t regret either choice because these books are absolutely fantastic. I can’t wait for the next book to drop!

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Bared. (A Green St. Girls Romance) by N.D. Jackson – Review by Shannen Kern

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Bared. (Green St. Girls #1)Bared. by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I definitely couldn’t pace myself with this story…I read it all in one go! I had to find out what would happen as the author drew me in with such finesse that I didn’t realize until I had finished half the book. The synopsis gripped me, and I knew I had to give Bared a chance. Thank goodness I did! I fell in love with the Green Street Girls quickly and found myself fully invested in each of the characters right away. I am so excited by this book that I’ve already picked up the next one to see what the author has in store!

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Ladies of the Links (Ladies of the Links Book 2) by Haley Rhoades – Review by Shannen Kern

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Ladies of the Links #2Ladies of the Links #2 by Haley Rhoades
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this as a stand-alone and felt pretty comfortable right away, though this author held my attention from the first page so I’m sure I’ll be going back to the first book now! I enjoyed the small-town feel of this book with the added sports, drama, and steam to make it extra interesting. Though there were a couple of moments the story kind of stalled out for me, I enjoyed it overall and will be continuing the series. I will definitely be on the lookout for this author more in the future. Give it a chance and you’ll fall in love with the characters!

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Fetching Dreams by Mary Bleckwehl – Review by Shannen Kern

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Fetching DreamsFetching Dreams by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While Fetching Dreams is aimed more towards middle-schoolers, I found it to be quite moving myself. I read this one with my soon to be 6th grader, and she loved it as well. It sparked a very deep conversation between us about remaining hopeful in the toughest of times. We also spoke about how, even though Neyah and Abby are living in almost completely opposite worlds, how empathetic they were towards each other. I found this story inspiring and really liked the determination of these young ladies. Even if you don’t have a middle-schooler in your life, I highly recommend picking this up and giving it a chance.

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Twisted Oath (Bound By Blood Book 1) by A. S. Roberts – Review by Shannen Kern

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Twisted Oath (Bound By Blood Book 1)Twisted Oath by A. S. Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was drawn into Twisted Oath when I read the very first page and pleasantly surprised that it was just as engaging throughout the rest of the story! Some series can take a bit to get into, but this one is absolutely riveting. It is a dark romance with the undertones of mafia, suspense, steamy chemistry, and angst all through this read. To say the twists took me by surprise was an understatement. I enjoyed every bit of this dark and thrilling romance with Serafina and Salvatore, though you might find yourself yelling at the book like I did at points. If you enjoy dark mafia romances, go ahead and give this a chance so that when the second Bound By Blood book comes out, you’ll be ready!

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A Match Made in Montana (The Millers of Marietta Book 2) by Elsa Winckler – Review by Shannen Kern

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A Match Made in Montana (The Millers of Marietta, #2)A Match Made in Montana by Elsa Winckler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can’t imagine what the loss of your parents would bring, but impulsive decisions sound probable. Add on the fact that you’re losing your supposed ‘til death partner before you tie the knot and you’ve got a storm of DEEP emotions. Annie moves after her tragic loss and sets up a B&B with little to no thought. I loved every bit of Annie. Her courage, her strength, and her willpower are all so admirable. I enjoyed the seamless flow of the story as we moved through each tragic loss and brave new start. I didn’t realize that I missed the first book, so I’m heading back to pick that up and get more of this author’s writing style. If you love second-chance romances with that tug at your emotions, then this one is definitely for you!

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Rise of the Hunter (Blood Prophecy Series) by Barb Jones – Review by Shannen Kern

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Rise of the HunterRise of the Hunter by Barb Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great supernatural book! I had read the first in this series but somehow skipped the next two. After reading this one, I’m definitely going to go back and enjoy the rest of the series. Even though I did miss what I’m sure will be amazing books, I didn’t feel confused as far as the plot. The Tall Dark Man was definitely fearsome and made me think that maybe I shouldn’t have read this at night. I always enjoy stories with multiple points of view, but this one did bog me down a little as it switched in odd places which interrupted my flow a bit. That’s really my only minor issue with this book. Otherwise, I feel like the author is continuing an incredibly supernatural horror series that I’m looking forward to reading in the future!

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Brutal Nights (Hidden Valley Elite Book 4) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Shannen Kern

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Brutal Nights (Hidden Valley Elite #4)Brutal Nights by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series continues to be my favorite of the year! It picks up right where Brutal Days left us and I am HERE for it. I’m not sure how this author creates such a captivating world that engages you from the very beginning. Even though it’s a quick read, there is plenty of depth to sink into. The chemistry between the characters is phenomenal, and the emotions will take you on a rollercoaster of feeling like you MUST find out what happens immediately! You’ll be invested in each character as they twist and turn throughout the story. Plenty of steam, romance, suspense, and angst, you’ll love this read and beg for more. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

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Grand Slam (Ground Rule Book 3) by Bree Kraemer – Review by Shannen Kern

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Grand Slam (Ground Rule Book 3)Grand Slam by Bree Kraemer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE Heath and Grace so much! It shouldn’t come as a surprise to me since I love this author, but this was such a cute sports romance. I was immediately pulled into the story and relating to the characters even though I’m far from athletic. Heath seems like the nice, respectful young man who lets Grace knows his feelings but doesn’t pressure her into making any decisions right away. You’ll feel the chemistry jump right off the pages. This is the third book in the series, and although it can be read as a standalone without confusion, you’ll be running back to grab the previous books anyways! I highly recommend reading Grand Slam even if sports aren’t your thing because this author knows how to pull you in.

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Shalom Israel by Melissa Lavi – Review by Shannen Kern

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Shalom Israel: A place like no otherShalom Israel: A place like no other by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book we’ve read by this author, and my kiddos and I loved it so much! They are both bookworms at the ages of 7 and 11, and they loved the illustrations and really enjoyed learning about a culture that differed from their own. I can say that I also learned some things I didn’t know which is always lovely! Both of my kids love to dig deeper into anything they hear about, so this book started a nice conversation that engaged us all. We will definitely be looking for more books by Melissa Lavi!

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