Relic Hunters book 5 is amazing, and I’m immediately going back to book 1. I love Greek mythology, the smooth transitions between past and present, Adam and Matt and the world that has been built and shared in this book. I was fully engrossed and didn’t feel confused about anything, but I did feel curious and interested in getting more engrossed in this world.
Adam and Matt are on the most important quest so far, and journey through Troy, deal with tragedies and Greek heroes, and a world full of wonderful characters. In the midst of all of this, they are on the run and being hunted as criminals themselves. The cover art drew my original attention, the summary made me interested, and reading the actual story has made me a fan. I can see these books even piquing the interest of non readers.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2024-02-01 17:01:242024-02-14 20:57:36Relic Hunters: Betrayal of the Gods (Relic Hunters Series) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Shea Gilkerson
After everyone enjoying the beach on a beautiful day and heading home, Crab Cray, Turtle Fay, Gull Ray and Fox hay are disappointed to see that the barrels were full of trash…until wind blew up and the garbage ended up back on the beach and out in the ocean. Shouldn’t we all be able to enjoy the beach? Looking for a plan, we meet Queen Mer May who offers advice and help to get the beach clean and protect the environment!
Another book of favorite characters, beautiful illustrations, fun rhymes, and a great message.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2024-01-25 17:18:552024-02-14 14:43:09Cray Saves the Day (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Shea Gilkerson 1/24/24
A rhyming book with a message of kindness, A New Day for Cray was adorable. Cray, a crab, has a lot of fun hassling his friends by pinching and pushing them. Turtle Fay saw him coming one day and swam away to avoid him. Next, he visits the seagull Ray – who flew away from Cray to avoid having his legs pinched. Finally, fox Hay tells him outright that no one likes his pinches! While on the move, Cray suffers an accident and loses his pinching claw. Cray was very upset about knocking off his claw, but when he looks up he sees his friends have stopped fleeing him and came by to offer support. The world can be changed with just a little kindness!
There’s the fun of the rhymes, the wonderful illustrations, and a simple message that ties it all up in a very cute bow.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2024-01-22 18:38:542024-02-09 14:12:57A New Day for Cray (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Shea Gilkerson 1/22/24
Dawkins is a cop who toes the line and does things his own way. When he is called in on a case that shows a predator going after stunning blondes, he has some choices to make. Will he be able to catch the killer before it puts those he loves at risk? The fear leads him down a path that has some dark opportunities. Cade isn’t considered lucky for having this case tossed in his lap, but his boss needs a win at best, and a scapegoat at worst.
Gritty, suspenseful, intriguing. A quick read that kept me interested until the end. I enjoyed reading the frame of mind behind the killer.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2023-09-29 02:05:032023-10-02 12:11:04Killer Blonde by Allan Evans – Review by Shea Gilkerson
Big fan of Isla Vaughn and the way her prose and world building draws you right in. I personally have trouble remembering sometimes that these students are in high school and early college, but to be fair I have never been an elite member of anything, been a con artist, Olympic level diver, NFL level football player, or anything else the rest of the characters deal with in this series. Regardless, as far as any type of “complaint”, that’s probably it.
Phoenix and Aspen are from different places in life. Phoenix has made it to college alongside his cousins and is leading the Thane University football team as the star QB as a freshman. He meets Aspen and neither are fans of the other. After a fling, Aspen finds herself pregnant. While neither are happy with the situation, they both have things happening that would be easier if they presented themselves as a couple. In the midst of pretending to be together, they both develop feelings they refuse to acknowledge or communicate about. There’s a lot of very immature ways to handle things between them, but the chemistry, fear, angst, confusion and so many other emotions keep you enthralled through the read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2023-09-21 10:14:012023-10-03 13:52:03Cruel Hate (Hidden Valley Elite Book 5) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Shea Gilkerson 9/21/23
Annabelle is a rock n roll fan, and attended a Balefire concert 2 years ago. Attending a rock n roll concert requires dressing for the part, so Annabelle dressed in sexy lace and tight leather, and it ended up paying off – she had the best night of her life with band member Dakota. She left the next day and convinced herself she made it all up, knowing Dakota was a ladies man with many notches on his bedpost. Dakota expected the same, but has been surprised ever since by thoughts of her and imagining he was able to find her again.
Fast forward to now, Annabelle was asked to be in her friend Clio’s wedding – who happens to be marrying the drummer from Balefire, Jack. She had never expected to see Dakota up close and personal again, and was sure he couldn’t possibly have remembered her – until she catches the fire in his eyes as he stares at her and realizes he hasn’t forgotten her.
After a mistake on Annabelle’s part, she ends up with a management internship with the Balefire band with a guarantee of a scholarship in a leading program for graduates – if the band manager doesn’t succeed in getting her to lose her opportunity, first. Honestly, he’s a real jerk and has his sights set on ruining her opportunity in any way he can. He is obviously threatened by Annabelle. While she is protecting herself from the manager on one side of things, she is being sucked back in by Dakota on the other. While their scenes together are hot, there is a lot of struggling through their relationship because they refuse to speak to one another, and Dakota is constantly making crude statements about his past and never sharing any feelings for her. They had hot chemistry and scenes together, but it is a little hard to follow along with them being a love match when they are virtually strangers throughout the book and have zero communication skills. The band and crew look out for Annabelle and are offering some level of protection, which feels like it tells a lot to what they think about the two of them together.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to starting at book 1 to learn more about the rest of the band!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2023-09-17 20:54:322023-10-03 13:44:31Wild For Me (The Balefire Series Book 3) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Shea Gilkerson
Second chance romance. Jordan is the front man for a band getting ready to go back on tour. Lex is the woman whose heart he broke, and the best tour manager in the business. Coming back together after their past in order to make this the best tour yet, will they be able to work together? Or will they have trouble staying apart?
With a past including the general story of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, Jordan and Lex have chemistry that is off the charts. When they come back into each others orbit to handle the tour, they both take notice of just how great the other looks. Jordan broke her heart once, will she let him back in, or keep him at arms length? Will Jordan be able to get control of his choices and company to prove to Lex that he’s serious?
I enjoyed the myriad of supporting characters and the emotion behind the storyline. There was a lot of tension and misunderstandings, passion and insecurity, jealousies and drama.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2023-09-15 15:51:242023-10-02 12:16:09When We Fell Again by Julie Archer – Review by Shea Gilkerson
This book made me feel a whole range of emotions. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I read it very quickly and have spent a lot of time thinking about it, since. The last part of the book, while it offers the catalyst for the main character to heal and save his family/humanity, felt a little detached from the rest. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and haven’t gotten it out of my head, yet.
JP Grimm was deployed to Iraq. One day, his fellow soldiers were approached by a child that looked a startling amount like his young son. His appearance is what made JP pause, and thanks to that pause – the child bomber killed soldiers. JP comes home a broken man, intensely suffering from PTSD and having it destroy him and affecting everyone in his life. The last portion of the book introduces an electromagnetic activity. This activity allows an opportunity to save people and feel as though he redeems himself.
This can be very heavy at times. It is intense. It is emotional. It is raw. And it is utterly beautiful. Highly recommend this read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2022-06-23 19:13:012022-06-26 10:47:47No Pistol Tastes the Same (PTSD Disaster Book 1) by Jacob Paul Patchen – Review by Shea Gilkerson
Kenzie is a chef. At the moment, she is doing catering gigs out of her small 1 bedroom apartment with her roommate, but she has experience as well as finely honed skills. The only thing she doesn’t have is the money or right connections to really accomplish her dreams. When she hears of a competition for CHG in Manhattan where the prize is an exclusive contract, she knows she and Reece have a chance to really make it! Little does she know, the “C” in CHG belongs to Jonas Courtland – the boy who broke her heart and upended her life in high school.
Jonas is a notorious playboy and proud of his status as both a bachelor, and as a Titan. His sucker friends all got taken down by women, but not him. He was an ingenious businessman in the luxury hotel world, as well as a man who has a different woman in his bed every night. Jonas is a very busy man with a very busy social life, but when he sees McKenzie again, everything becomes a little less clear.
This book has such a wild range of emotions and series of “are they or aren’t they?” keeping you on your toes. Several times I thought there wouldn’t be any more surprises, but I was wrong every time. Jonas and Kenzie kept me interested.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2022-06-16 19:03:202022-06-17 11:01:59Victoriously Yours (Titans of Manhattan Book 4) by Anise Storm – Review by Shea Gilkerson
My first read by this author, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As with most werewolf romance stories, there are several common themes – werewolves are primal and violent, there are fated mates and the goddess, and there’s evil men and valiant men. There are a few seductive moments, suspense, shape shifting and violence. It was interesting enough that I’ll continue to read the series to see what becomes of Lily and Jason.
Lily is a human servant of the Wolf Hollow pack. She has a grueling schedule for terrible masters. The king and alpha is a cruel man who enjoys making others fear him. Everyone in his presence strictly keeps their eyes away to avoid challenging him. Lily has a miserable life as a servant to the wolf pack, but has made a couple of friends that look out for her. When she is cornered and attacked in her bedroom by an abusive soldier, she is rushed to the royal families medical facility. It is here she really meets Prince Jason, the future alpha. As a human, she expects and anticipates the prince to mistreat her and is determined to stay out of his way…but Jason has caught her scent and realizes she is his mate. He is drawn to her, uncaring of the status difference between them. Once he learns who Lily’s attacker is, he challenges Callum.
This story is pretty fast paced and kept me interested enough to keep reading. It is a shorter book and the interest made for an especially quick read. It seems as though it could be a bit more polished, but was enjoyable and has you cheering for Lily and Jason and liking Dean and Amara.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2022-04-05 12:37:512022-04-05 18:14:32Claiming My Mate (Wolf Hollow Pack Book 1) by Nicole Howl – Review by Shea Gilkerson
An apocolypse caused by a virus, pockets of virus and zombie outbreaks, a hero and heroine, outrageously beautiful world building, and characters you can’t wait to explore more and follow make for such a good book!
Baron is a lonely man – simple man on the surface, but his complexities keep him alive in an apocolyptic world where he just wants to find more people. In village after village, he finds destruction and death, or zombies he is trying to flee. He ends up following his instincts after meeting a man and killing him – and then he meets Talia. Is she the answer to ending the virus? The dynamic between them is wonderful and kept me from putting the book down. I can’t wait to learn more about them in the rest of the series!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2022-03-24 08:00:492022-03-24 08:00:49The Prisoner of the Dead (Dead World Book 1) by Megan Mackie – Review by Shea Gilkerson
This book originally caught my eye when I saw the spooky cover – and further when I saw clown in the title. I’m not a fan of clowns in general, but love spooky stuff, paranormal, dystopian kind of reads. This book, and Abbey, are not the “norm”. When you do something so different from the rest, it is either a great move or disastrous, and the author with this move did something outstanding.
Abbey Hill has always had spooky events happen to her with ghosts being drawn her way. Most are friendly, or just confused, but some are downright evil. So many relationships have been lost thanks to her “talent” – and that’s not what she would consider it. After taking a fun family trip to the circus with her parents, Abbey begins noticing ghost clowns everywhere she goes. While that is bad enough, her friends then start disappearing. Is Abbey the cause of her missing friends? Can she fix this?
Abbey is really a great, strong, fun character and carries the story incredibly well. I love her sense of self, her snarkiness, her taste in music – on top of all the other dramas and messes of high school, everything blends so well and is a really intoxicating read. I’m thrilled to find several more books by this author to dig into next!
Sweet Rourke is a 7th grade boy with mysterious neighbors, a crush, younger twin sisters, an autistic older brother, and severe anxiety. I’ve been saying for years that adults forget how stressful it is being a kid, and this book gives a perfect example of how accurate that is. This YA story speaks so wonderfully to young people, but offers a wonderful point of view to adults reading it, as well.
You never know what someone is going through, their thoughts, struggles, home life, mental health…you truly never know. This book was a wonderful read and checked all the boxes. I was brought to tears a few times, laughed and related to the awkwardness many more – and was very satisfied with the ending. I’m glad I took a chance on this book and really feel like I am taking something away from it. A delight.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2022-02-17 17:27:502022-02-17 18:29:04The Worry Knot by Mary Bleckwehl – Review by Shea Gilkerson
In the last book, Arabella finally discovered her magic. As the 7th daughter of a 7th daughter who had never before discovered her magic, she was treated poorly her entire life by everyone she knew – to the point of flat out abuse from her awful mother, the head of the most powerful coven of witches possibly in the world.
In this book, Arabella is joining the Sisterhood of Witches as the first ever technomancer and her first assignment has found her sent to help find a solution to the famine in Ireland. 2 witches from the Sortilege line have already succumbed to the famine, will she be able to use her unique abilities to solve such a huge problem?
While I wish things didn’t end so abruptly, I enjoyed the descriptions and ideas shared in this book like I did the first. It still has me interested in more continuation.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2022-02-15 07:39:542022-02-15 07:39:54The Clockwork Solution (The Clockwork Chronicles Book 2) by Michelle D. Sonnier – Review by Shea Gilkerson
I really enjoyed the world building and descriptions in this book. The idea of blending magic and technology is a new approach, and the theory of it is very interesting.
Where I had issues was the bullying and snarkiness in this book. Whether it be towards witches, sisters, daughters, neighbors, etc, there was a lot of nastiness towards people in this book. That treatment also led to Arabella being meek and immature, which would realistically be how an abused person could be…but it was to the point that it sometimes it was distracting from an otherwise very intriguing storyline and beautiful descriptions.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and think it is a wonderful idea to blend magic and technology. The descriptions of how Arabella saw magic and that that is how other witches see it made it easy to picture in my head, exactly how the author envisioned it in their writing. I’ll follow future additions to this series!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2022-02-15 07:38:472022-02-15 07:40:22The Clockwork Witch (The Clockwork Chronicles Book 1) by Michelle D. Sonnier – Review by Shea Gilkerson
Book 1 in the Shadow Chronicles books, Forbidden Wolf, was so much more than I expected it to be. Most paranormal romance style books follow the same trope, and although I still read them – they don’t come across as terribly unique. This book has so much more happening than the 2 species and a forbidden romance. I was invested in the mystery of this book, and it also still offered steamy scenes and action.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2022-01-17 15:43:272022-01-17 15:43:27Forbidden Wolf (The Shadow Chronicles Book 1) by CR Robertson – Review by Shea Gilkerson
Levi and Tasha are back, and their story is as well written as before. My one complaint is that Tasha seems to have to tone herself down because she relies so strongly on Levi, but partnership always has some give and take. This is a paranormal romance unlike others I have read, and book 1 to book 2 is well carried over. A new level is added to the story in this book, but it doesn’t leave past issues forgotten. Looking forward to some solved mysteries in book 3, and finding out if love continues to win between 2 different species.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2022-01-17 15:42:272022-01-17 15:42:27Forbidden Mate (The Shadow Chronicles Book 2) by CR Robertson – Review by Shea Gilkerson
The saga of Levi and Tasha is wonderfully completed in this book. The mystery was so interesting, the story is so well done, the partnership and love is so intoxicating, that it was kind of sad to read this final story. I found myself invested in the story from the first page of the first book, so it felt a little like I was leaving friends behind. You won’t regret reading these books and getting to know these characters.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2022-01-17 07:40:432022-01-17 07:40:43Forbidden Moon (The Shadow Chronicles Book 3) by CR Robertson – Review by Shea Gilkerson
From the first page, this book brings you into the emotions and attachments felt by our characters and it keeps its hold all the way through. Jared and Madison are magnets drawn to each other, unable to resist the pull. Christopher is the central point that brings them together, and so many aspects of him lead to the many peaks and valleys of this roller coaster ride.
These characters feel so relatable and flawed and natural and beautiful. We have so many people throughout our lives that trigger these same emotions and desires and moments – they feel like home, like our own lives. Jared and Madison have so much chemistry, and yet are so afraid to explore it. Christopher is suffering dementia and his happiness is so bright when he is happy that it is blinding. This book brought me to tears multiple times – throughout so many interwoven aspects. Healthcare needs and the health of our loved ones, the ways it can affect how we treat others, the way it can feed into fears of needing and loving someone, the ways our parents can make us feel, even as grown adults with thoroughly chaotic lives of our own. It could have been almost any of our stories, but told so much more beautifully than I think we would have remembered our experiences.
I’m looking forward to going back through the first 2 books of this series to see what ties together and what is standalone, but I didn’t really feel like I was missing anything reading this as a standalone. I think I found a new favorite author!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2021-12-22 08:29:462021-12-22 08:29:46Embracing Jared (Thrill of the Chase, #3) by Anna Paige – Review by Shea Gilkerson
Book 3 in the Mafia Elite series does it again. A great mix of the down and dirty world of mafia families, passionate stolen moments and personal vendettas.
Stefano and Emiliana have eyes only for each other, but have to wait for Stefanos father to die off in order to be safe. Stolen kisses in secret have to be enough to satisfy them, but it ends up getting them caught and the witness turns out to be a rat.
This book is great standalone, but I love reading the prior books in a series and having some back story on fringe characters in the later offerings.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2021-12-12 20:15:422021-12-13 08:22:24Born in Darkness (Mafia Elite Book 3) by Amy McKinley – Review by Shea Gilkerson
This is my first experience with Eve Sawyer, but the 3rd book in the series. I’ll be going back to book 1! This book was easy to follow and a fine stand alone story, but I always enjoy the extra from reading a whole series and having more backstory to characters. This is a really great, fast paced, quick read.
In this book, Eve has just finished solving the mystery from book 2 and is returning to school – but her success as a sleuth has brought attention to her in the form of a mom looking for her college student child who didn’t make it home. Will Eve figure out what has happened? Will she stay safe and get back to her college student life?
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2021-12-07 07:47:302021-12-07 07:47:30MURDER OFF ROUTE 82 (Eve Sawyer Mystery Book 3) by Jane Suen – Review by Shea Gilkerson
This book was such an awesome read, even if you aren’t regularly a psychological thriller fan. It is dark, it is beautiful, it is about the different parts of ourselves and who we want to be. There are many moments when it feels obvious what has happened, but you get more nuances and details and find yourself at a loss for guessing the story, over and over.
Control makes people do crazy things – sometimes to seek control, sometimes to let go of it. Aria’s story is so wonderfully woven that you won’t stop thinking about it after you’ve completed the book. This book is about the different parts of her and the occurrences that have led to the telling of her story. The author filled this book with so many excellent zigs and zags, I didn’t want to put it down.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2021-12-06 15:47:462021-12-06 15:47:46Black Canvas by Laura Rossi – Review by Shea Gilkerson
The baptismal font cracked in half in the local church on the day that Annie was born – a very bad omen to her italian-american family. They resorted to baptising her in her grandmothers salad bowl.
This is just the beginning of this engaging book about Annie’s very interesting life. As she ages, the whispers she has always heard begin getting louder and louder. Every stage of Annie’s past and present are wonderfully shared in this book and it kept me turning the pages. A new author for me, but not one that will get old.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2021-11-28 14:23:032021-11-29 07:09:33Strega – Magic: The Spirit Never Dies by Lynne Russell – Review by Shea Gilkerson
Preston. Caspian. Grandfather and grandson. 2 mega players in the world of business.
Caspian leads a lifestyle people are jealous of. He has worked extremely hard to have his pick of women, cars, vacations…you name it. And he takes weighing all of his options VERY seriously. His grandfather hits him with news he didn’t expect – unless he marries someone, and stays married for a year, he will not achieve his goal of being made the CEO of the company his grandfather operates. Caspian is not willing to forgo his dream and what he has worked so hard for, so he has to come up with a plan.
Paisley is having the worst luck of her life. When she and Caspian, childhood friends, happen to run into each other – that’s when he comes up with his plan. If Paisley agrees to marry him, and stay married for 1 year and 1 day, he will be willing to monetarily solve her problems. Will it really be the solution to both of their problems? Will Caspian be able to have his cake and eat it, too?
The first couple chapters of this book are a little hard to read – but still kept me interested. After those first 2 chapters, it was a total turnaround and I couldn’t put it down! Caspian and Paisley prove to be likeable characters that are drawn to eachother and keep you interested in their story and how it comes together. This is a new author for me, but I’ll be seeking them out to get to know them better!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2021-11-28 14:11:062021-11-29 07:08:49Conveniently Yours (Titans Of Manhattan BOOK 1) by Anise Storm – Review by Shea Gilkerson
I can’t wait to follow this series! Joe Grace has finally hit the big time in his band, Gracefall, where he is the drummer. He has everything he could ever want…except THE girl – his best friend, Mel. Mel’s father is a rock legend, as well as the one who taught Joe everything he knows about the world of rock n roll – including the lifestyle.
Mel has sworn to never date a rocker after watching what it did to her parents. Joe has never wanted to hurt Melody, and she is his endgame. They both look at past experiences in their lives to lead them to make the choices they have. Will becoming Gracefall’s tour manager give them the opportunity to get to know each other on a romantic level amongst all the sizzling chemistry, or will it push them towards others? Will tragedy lead them to being together and making their relationship stronger than ever? This book is definitely worth the read to answer your questions.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2021-11-21 08:52:272021-11-21 12:35:55Rock Me To The Top (Gracefall: Vicious Love Tour) by Victoria Zak – Review by Shea Gilkerson
Strong start to a mafia series! Suspense, politics, a large cast of characters (both likeable and ones you love to hate), assasins, mafia princesses, arranged marriages, bodyguards…this book has so many aspects that keep you enthralled, and it’s put together beautifully by an author who knows how to keep you involved in her world. Lil is an excellent female protaganist, Max is a dominant alpha male, and this story is an enthralling trip through their relationship as it grows and changes. I’ll be reading more books by this author!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2021-11-21 08:24:472021-11-21 12:35:12No Way Out (Mafia Elite, book 1) by Amy McKinley – Review by Shea Gilkerson
Book 2 keeps a great pace in the series. This time around the story centers on Enzo and Sofia…best friends, love interests, willing to stay away from each other to protect the other. This is it’s own stand alone novel, but I think it’s better if you read book 1, as there are a few familiar characters and connections that improve the overall experience.
This author offers characters with nice development, a robust backstory, plenty of intrigue and romance to keep you following. These books make for a pretty quick read, as they are hard to put down! Check out the series!
If you missed my title – TRIGGER WARNING. There are multiple scenes of explicit abuse and torture in this book, and very harsh situations throughout.
If you can get beyond your discomfort of the graphic scenes described, this book has some really great character development. The opening finds you watching Elizabeth Finley as she spies on the spies, curious about their reality. Once she meets Alex, her life takes a pretty dramatic turn. Liz’s character development is strong, and the author doesn’t sway too far into helpless damsel, as many books in this genre tend to do. You delve into her mind and begin to understand her as she undergoes some graphic torture scenes. She makes for a very beautiful heroine of the book and comes upon a big surprise in the end.
This is a fun, sweet story that puts you in the mood for romance and Christmas. Fun characters I’d like in real life, as well as some that are not as likable, but we can relate to having them in our lives! Not overdone on romantic scenes, which I think puts it firmly and fairly into that sweet/fun read category. The writing and editing I think could use a touch more of a heavy hand, but I really enjoyed the base story, under some strange addings on about Mrs. Clause. Overall it was a fun read and I’d read more by this author and in this Perfect Pairings series. I can see myself reading it again closer to the holiday when I need a quick break from all the busy, busy.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2021-11-13 18:43:142021-11-14 06:17:47Christmas Cookies on a Cruise Ship (The Perfect Pairing Series Book 1) by Parker Fairchild – Review by Shea Gilkerson
I am notoriously guilty of finding something I’m interested in and then immediately overwhelming myself with so much information that I don’t know where to start. The practice of magic is something that has interested and entertained me for as much of my life as I can remember. Like most other things, any knowledge I gathered seemed overwhelming and I didn’t know where to start and not screw something up.
Maria DeBlassie does a phenomenal job of making the practice of magic be much more achievable in this book, and reading it has made me finally understand how I can do every day things with intent, and use my intentions as a way to bring a little magic into my life and the lives of those I love. There are no magical requirements listed in this book other than learning to accept and love parts of yourself you have been trained to let wither, and use them to strengthen your connection to your sense of self as well as understand your strengths and the kind of magic that is available to you when you do that. She does a wonderful job of sharing her own practices and what led her to them – as well as what parts of her life led her away from them before she started down the path she leads.
I’d label this book as self help more than a “witchy” book, but it is honestly the first book on paganism and a magic lifestyle that I have truly felt I connected to, and helps me provide a wonderful base to now start adding on to. The things I’ve read in the past were much more practice based, involving divinations, in depth knowledge already required, and this book made me feel seen – like someone knew where I needed to start. This book feels like Marie is talking directly to me, leading me to the beginning of the path to start daily practices for better self care, living with intent, and understanding what my goals are. I don’t think I was ever able to really visualize my witchy goals before this book, as it was more of a daydream of what I could do “when I had time”.
I loved this book and am very thankful I found it. I look forward to reading the other Practically Pagan books, as well as more by Marie DeBlassie.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shea Gilkersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShea Gilkerson2021-11-07 20:26:522023-08-05 15:21:44Practically Pagan – An Alternative Guide to Magical Living by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Shea Gilkerson
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Betrayal of the Gods by Martin Ferguson
