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Talks Like Thunder (Red With Native Blood Book 1) by Randal Nerhus & Marjorie Carter – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Talks Like Thunder: Red With Native Blood: Novella OneTalks Like Thunder: Red With Native Blood: Novella One by Randal Nerhus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an amazing novella of Desert Flower’s journey. This really is a book that will grab your attention. I was intrigued at how she started off her life and how strong she became. She is a true warrior spirit. The writing is so flowing and relatable that you can’t put it down. I found that I had to finish it. All of the characters are well-written from Grey Fox to those in the tribe. They all grew to mesh well, as a family should. This is about a young, indigenous girl that becomes a strong young woman. She overcomes a lot and finds her family. It’s a must read story.

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What Do the Plants Say? (Alex, the Inventor) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shelly Kittell

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What Do the Plants Say? (Alex, the Inventor)What Do the Plants Say? by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alex, the inventor, is so creative and full of imagination. This story gives such a chuckle. One can imagine filling little plants with helium and going for a ride. Oh, I can remember asking Calgon to take me away. My grandson asked me if we could really take a flying ride with flowers. I could see his little mind churning. I love how this author’s stories help to stir the child’s creative thoughts with her stories. We love reading about Alex’s adventures and look forward to more. The pictures are colorful. The story is perfect for letting your imagination flow and it’s a 5-star book in our house.

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The Hussar’s Duty (The Winged Warrior Series Book 3) by Griffin Brady – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The Hussar's Duty (The Winged Warrior #3)The Hussar’s Duty by Griffin Brady
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a book I couldn’t put down. Jacek’s journey was tough and it kept me engaged it in this story until the end. He had to choose between career or family.That’s always a touch one. Well-written, this book takes you to a place that we have never been. It’s an amazing story that just left me wanting more more. I have read each of the author’s books in this series and they are so good. This is just as good. The characters are so uniquely genuine and even based in 17th century, they are relatable. This is a must read if you love historical fiction.

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Soul Redeemed (War of Destiny Book 5) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Soul Redeemed (War of Destiny #5)Soul Redeemed by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is another winner in the series. Julia is still working through her issues and now she has to figure out how to work her talents and other items. The writing is strong. The characters are each so unique and I love how they are, because they come from different units and somehow mesh well together even with some mistrust. Julia is strong and has come through so much. I love how she has grown throw the series. The storyline is interesting and grabs you. This really isn’t meant to be a standalone as you may be lost if you try. This author does such a terrific job with her books that you just can’t put them down.

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Sleeping Love by Natalina Reis – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Sleeping LoveSleeping Love by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting retelling of the famous fairy tale. I found it to be a good read. It was well-written with the gay twist or POV. The characters all fit well into the story which helped it flow smooth. It’s an entertaining story if you’re into this genre.

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Hope and Lies (The Abredea Series Book 1) by C.H. Lyn – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Hope and LiesHope and Lies by C.H. Lyn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this story to be amazing. The writing is such that I dove in. My family wondered if I was ever going to put my phone down. I love dystopian fiction and have since Hunger Games came out. The characters are all so beautifully written. They all have such unique personalities and just mesh so nicely into the story. The length of the book just didn’t matter to me. I devoured it in no time at all. I found it just sneaks a hand right out at the beginning and grabs you right in from the start. I would love to give you a favorite part but this is one book that I truly loved it all. A definite 5 star. If you love dystopian fiction, this is a must read.

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Fireflies (The Physical Collection) by A.R. Hadley – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Fireflies (The Physical Collection)Fireflies by A.R. Hadley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting tale of romance. A poly romance is usually quite interesting to read because it has many different angles to view it from. This one had a few but I had a little bit of hard time wrapping my head around it. I did find the writing to be interesting. The author writes in such a way as to grab your attention and you do want to continue because you are vested. Watching Dane and Mike go about getting what they wanted and adding to make their family was an adventure, to say the least. The characters are well-written. You can feel their emotion. The plot runs fairly smooth. It’s a good story for those into this genre.

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People Safari by Feather Chelle – Review by Shelly Kittell

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People SafariPeople Safari by Feather Chelle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this to be a delightful view of people from the animal’s POV. It makes you wonder… The pictures are colorful and it’s an entertaining and thoughtful story. Ranger Marco has to be my favorite. I love his descriptions of people and the towns. All of the descriptions are quite intriguing and done to be fun for the young ones. A wonderful book that will be added to our home library.

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Fee, Fi, Fo, Grow! (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Fee, Fi, Fo, Grow!: The Real Magic of the Beans (Science Folktales)Fee, Fi, Fo, Grow!: The Real Magic of the Beans by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, this author amazes me with her talent at telling such amazing and fun stories. This retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk has Priscilla and the Giant’s wife trading beans for Golden Eggs. The magic beans turn out to be self-sustaining. I found the characters quite entertaining. I do love how her characters are positive and not horribly scary. There is always a lesson to learn. The pictures are quite beautiful and the story is fun to read. My family votes this as another winner. It will be added to our collection.

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Tally and the Angel: Book Three, Japan by Eleanor Dixon – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Japan (Tally and the Angel #3)Japan by Eleanor Dixon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh, how I enjoyed this story. The mystery of what Miyu and Yoshi were up to. Miyu is a troubled girl. Tally and Jophiel have their hands full. Kumi, the tannen, is a delightful addition. I found the storyline with it’s suspense and mystery to be a treat. I did miss Tally’s dad interactions in the story this time. We got to learn abit about the Japanese culture, which is really neat to learn about. I loved the characters. Tally is sure a pretty strong character. Brace and full of courage for her age. Loved this book.

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is an inspiration sent to bless lives. It is a book that will have you feeling many emotions. I will tell you to keep tissue nearby. I love good, clean writing that is meant to inspire. This novel brings two sisters together with the help of Marci, the daughter of one of the sisters and the help of their mother. We all have baggage and there is no shortage of it in this book. Issues have happened and feelings have been hurt. It’s time to fix things. I love the premise of the story. I love how it was written in short stories. Marci is a wonderful and strong character trying to make sure her grandmother’s wishes are carried out. I loved this story and it will be going in my personal library. It reminded me of my mom and was a wonderful read for Mother’s Day 2023.

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Concert Hall Hit (A Darcy Gaughan Mystery) by J.C. Kenney – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Concert Hall Hit: A Darcy Gaughan MysteryConcert Hall Hit: A Darcy Gaughan Mystery by J.C. Kenney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this mystery. Darcy is a cool chick with a rockin’ record store that ends up with a hell of a mystery. The musician is quite the character. The suspects make quite the lineup. Everytime I thought I figured it out, twist ahead. I love mysteries like this. It’s cool, contemporary and a quite entertaining read. I found the story is one that I just dove right in. This was my first one from this author so, of course, I had to go buy the first book in the series. I can’t wait to read more in the Darcy series. If you want a fun, quick read, you must give go with this one.

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Three Women in November by Jim Shomos – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Three Women in NovemberThree Women in November by Jim Shomos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a beautiful story! I absolutely fell in love with Leo’s story. The way that he connected with these three strong women. It’s a beautiful love story. The characters are so well-written. They a re so easy to connect with. The story is beautiful and so full of detail. I found my self just drifting into the story every available minute I had. This is an emotional and touching story. I hope to read more from this author.

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Aliens on Earth Anthology (Limited Edition Romance Collections) by Various Authors – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Aliens on EarthAliens on Earth by Mandy Melanson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Quite the interesting anthology of romantic stories of aliens and humans in romance here on earth. I read Alice’s Illusions by Maya Banks and The Alien & The Crime Boss by Naomi Valkyrie.

Alice’s Illusions is like a psychotic stalker/thriller. I wished there was a little more alien to the story then just haunted stalker feel. Overall, it’s a good thriller story that you might want to have a light on while you read because it’s a little spooky with your romance. Alice ind Hal feel like a bad trip from the rabbit hole. Try out the story anyway because Alice is full of surprises and she shows them as the story goes on.

The Alien & Crime Boss was a surprising story. A M/M romance that has the alien busting out his warrior to protect the crime boss. Can’t give away to much but it’s a story full of drama, adventure and some out-of-this world romance.. Watching this story develop gave insight to seeing two new cultures come together. It was a good story.

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Truly Unfortunate (Welcome to Knollville Book 1) by C.A. King – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Truly Unfortunate (Welcome To Knollville #1)Truly Unfortunate by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, this story is so good. I found the plot of the story to be so incredibly creepy. i love the psychological suspense/thrill to the story. The characters and how they intertwine just sucks you right into the story. Truly’s beginning story had me from the start. I couldn’t put the story down. This author has a way of writing that just grabs you by the arm and drags you in. This is right up there with her other stories I’ve read. I can’t wait to read more in this series. This is a must read.

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Punk (Popov Boys Book 6) by Leslie Georgeson – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Punk (Popov Boys #6)Punk by Leslie Georgeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Efram, hottie with a hidden secret, and Miranda, stressed to gills with an ex-pain in the ass. These two are made for each other. There is some instant spark there. The fun is reading along as the secrets are found out and how they work through them. The author has a wonderful way with words. Miranda is a strong character and I love how she still shows her feminine ways and vulnerability when she needs to. I loved the plot. I loved the other characters. This is a fun series that works as stand alone or a series.

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Stars Like Gasoline by Jessika Grewe Glover – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Stars Like GasolineStars Like Gasoline by Jessika Grewe Glover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an intense story! I jumped in right from the start and didn’t come up for air until I finished the story. The intensity just grabs you. I love the suspense and how the author wrote it into the story. The author does a tremendous job of introducing the characters to us. The plot is out-of-this world. This is a story that just might make you rethink turning those lights off (even if it is a stalker, I’m not telling). This is a definite must read.

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Hero Complex (Bluestone Series Book 3) by Isobel Reed – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Hero Complex (Bluestone Series, #3)Hero Complex by Isobel Reed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this story of Ace and Ivy. Heaven knows, these two have issues to overcome. Being at risk of losing her ranch, Ace comes to her rescue. They kept me laughing and feeling all the emotions as they worked through their relationship. These two try so hard to keep things professional as they fake a relationship to keep the good ole’ boys studding their horses at her ranch. Yeah, the sparks flew from the moment they met. Loved the characters. It was so great to see characters like Jake/Lila and Brady/Alice from the previous books appear. Teddy/Summer made an appearance, I can’t wait for more of their story in the next book. This story has so much love, humor and romance. It’s a feel good with a second chance feel. Ivy is a spit-fire of her own that Jake is going to wrangle, if it’s the last thing he does. This is a fantastic and quick read.

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The First Sin (South of Eden) Audiobook by Lisa Beth Darling – Review by Shelly Kittell

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This story was quite interesting. First, the narrator had a fantastic voice. I really enjoyed listening to this with him chatting. I do want to say that having to hear about the dirty body parts dragging in the dirt wasn’t really a part of the story that helped it. I found the story to be intriguing from the view of Lucifer, Adam and Eve. The other characters were al right. It had it’s good points and weaker points. I think fans of romance with a bit of erotic in it may enjoy this story.

4/5 stars

Reaper (War Brothers MC Book 1) by Bianca Lee Ward – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Reaper (War Brothers MC, #1)Reaper by Bianca Lee Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness! This is one of the best MC books I’ve read this year. I’m going to rank it up there with my favorites, D.M. Earl and Manda Mallet. It’s a cleaner version of them and so dang good. I can’t tell you much because I feel it would be spoiler. I can tell you that the characters are outstanding. Reaper and Ava are so relatable. Ava goes through hell. The plot is fantastic and you just can’t put it down once you start. I had to read it straight through. It just grabs you. There is drama, romance and suspense. A definite must read. I’ll be eagerly awaiting book 2.

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Stay For Me (The Balefire Series Book 5) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Stay For Me (The Balefire Series Book 5)Stay For Me by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Garrett and Olivia get the second chance at romance that they should have had. Garrett has gotten a reputation for being a putz with the ladies in the band (the guy’s gals). They aren’t too fond of him. Now Garrett has found Olivia and is wanting to win her back. It’s a long road for them but to watch them work on it is kind of a redeeming road. You are glad to see what happens. A romance that will have you feeling the emotions and enjoy seeing old faces in the story. Entertaining and fun, serious and romantic, a definite must-read.

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The Guardian of Whispers (The Reeds of West Hills Book 1) by B. E. Padgett – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The Guardian of Whispers (The Reeds of West Hills #1)The Guardian of Whispers by B.E. Padgett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this to be an entertaining story. It did remind me of Harry Potter in some ways. It does have a fresh and original way in other ways. The characters, especially the brothers, have such a tight bond. This makes their adventures kind of exciting. I found the whole book to be exciting when looking at it from a child’s stance. It’s got that sense of adventure and fun that kids are looking for. I loved the suspense between the parents and the doctor. It’s a good book.

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Cecily in the City (The Cecily Taylor Series Book 3) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Cecily in the CityCecily in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this to be an interesting story of teen angst with a touch of mean girls. Cecily is just trying to achieve her dream. Right from the start, she’s dealing with drama. I found the story to be fairly relatable. You could feel her anxiety and trust issues. I found the characters to be well-written. You could feel the emotion, their personalities. I felt like it could have been happening right there around me. The plot was well-thought out. This is a good YA novel and a quick read.

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Brave Kids: Short Stories to Inspire Future World Changers by Janice Pratt – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Brave Kids: Short Stories to Inspire Our Future World-ChangersBrave Kids: Short Stories to Inspire Our Future World-Changers by K.J. Kaschula
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic short story book to read and/or have children read. These are encouraging stories that really do help young ones look at things with new perspectives. I read these with my grandson. Our favorite was “Tonight is the Night.” He is autistic and some nights its hard for him to sleep alone. This story really caught his attention. We are working our way through the book for the second-time (oh, yes, this is a favorite obsession now. 🙂 ).

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A Monster for Meg (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shelly Kittell

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A Monster for MegA Monster for Meg by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I seriously loved this story. Little sister is blind so big sister is describing what a monster would look like. The descriptions are vivid and the colors in the illustrations are my favorite which makes this my favorite book by this author yet. The ending will grip your emotions and just melt your heart like the Grinch’s. Ooh, such a sweet and cute story. I look forward to new stories from this author.

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Raising Elle (Sweet Valley Series Book 1) by S.E Reichert – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Raising ElleRaising Elle by S.E. Reichert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Even with the serious challenges faced in this second=chance romance, Elle and Blake find their way back to each other. What makes this story to endearing and heartwrenching is the work they both put into it. I felt every moment and emotion of the pain they felt. Their story of second=chance romance is one worth reading. There are touch topics but it’s worth charging through. Love is hard and their are many blockades. The author did a fantastic job of making this story relatable through her writing with the the characters, the plot and the overall tone of the book. I would love to see more with Elle’s sisters finding their loves.

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The Serpent and the Firefly by Courtney Davis – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The Serpent and the FireflyThe Serpent and the Firefly by Courtney Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Boy, Jade stepped from one heap of trouble into a paranormal heap of trouble. Baal, a snake shifter, enters her life, as she starts a new life in WiTSEC. Oh, I found the drama and all the critters in the story quite entertaining. It is a pretty basic story yet the author gave us a intriguing look at how Jada came to find out about herself and her powers. Exploding with her light and energy in the field was my favorite part. I found the characters to be enough that they kept me wanting more. The plot had a few glitchy spots but it was enough to keep reading. I would love more about this crazy town full of paranormal craziness hidden among it. The romance helps also.

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Fiddle and Fire (Hearts of Gold Book 2) by Ariella Talix – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Fiddle and Fire: A Steamy Historical MMF Romance (Hearts of Gold Book 2)Fiddle and Fire: A Steamy Historical MMF Romance by Ariella Talix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness! A MMF in a historical western. This was a fun and entertaining story. Walter and Isaac became fast friends on their travels out west. Once they settled and started their business, along comes Suzette and her past. Cue the adventure, drama and romance. The plot had a few glitchy parts. I did enjoy the characters and how they were written. Overall, a quick read that might kill some time while you’re home in the evening.

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Corpse Pixie by Sinister Styx – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Corpse PixieCorpse Pixie by Sinister Styx
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An entertaining paranormal read that has a little of what I love: witches, fae, zombies, wild things and some that I don’t: demons and hunters. I loved the writing. It was like hide and seek for the paranormal. The premise of the plot is good. The characters are weirdly fascinating and grow on you. It’s a quick read that will have you chuckling as you indulge in trying to figure out why?

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A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris – Review by Shelly Kittell

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A Curse of Ash and IronA Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I fell in love with this story because it was a Cinderella retelling from the boy POV. It’s a refreshing tale. I found it entertaining and actually enjoyed it. It was a quick read. I think the YA crowd will like it. The premise is good. The characters are quite well-done. It has a good vibe about it.

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