Posts

Something About Aimee (Girls from the Street Book 1) by S.E. Smith – Review by Shelly Kittell

Something About Aimee (Girls from the Street Book 1)Something About Aimee by S.E. Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love a romance with a strong female character. Aimee is touch, strong and very independent. Through a few misadventures, she meets Qadir, pushes back againtst a corrupt cop and jus tries to live her life. Qadir is determined to make her his wife. Oh, did I mention he is a Sheik? This is a story that will entertain you. It’s not your usual romance. Aimee tries to keep doing things for herself. Qadir is just trying to love her. The world is pushing back with problems. I found all the characters well-written. I love when she uses knowing Biggie as a threat. Or how her biggest treasure is her skateboard. The story is amazing. No glitches. I can’t wait to reat the second book in the series. Power women make this series rock.

View all my reviews

Tale of a Body Thief (Rovena Silvex Chronicles Book 1) Review by Shelly Kittell

Tale of a Body Thief (Rovena Silvex chronicles Book 1)Tale of a Body Thief by Kristy Centeno
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rovena has her hands full. She must keep the dead man alive. Yep, he arose again but this time with a new soul. And it isn’t as easy as she may think. Rovena is a strong and touch chick that will do what she needs to to survive. She is a hunter. I found this book entertaining. It is wildly unpredictable, and I love this. This is a large factor on what pulled me in. From page 1, I was sucked in by the action (demon fight, anyone?). The characters are well developed. The story has a little of everything in it: humor, mystery, fantasy, paranormal, romance. This is one of the best paranormal books I’ve read this year. I literally couldn’t put it down until I had finished it.

View all my reviews

One Unexpected Gift (Band of Sisters) by Marianne Rice – Review by Shelly Kittell

One Unexpected Gift (Band of Sisters)One Unexpected Gift by Marianne Rice
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a story that will melt your heart and bring out all the emotional feelers. Skylar has to find her way in single motherhood. With the help of her band of sisters, she will tell Gabriela’s father about her and work through the intricacies of a relationship. She and Nick both bring baggage. Can that love survive? A beautifully written story with real struggles that just makes you smile. The characters are wonderful and feel like family. You’ll find youurself relating to them. The plot is very smooth, just like a flowing river. A romance that I would recommend to all contemporary romance lovers.

View all my reviews

Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Shelly Kittell

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

Cora is on an adventure assisting Tesla. What an intriguing mystery. There is plenty of mystery, adventure and knowledge in this book. It was a fun read. It’s also fairly quick to finish. The plot runs very smooth. It’s well-thought out and you’ll fall in love with the characters. Cora is my favorite. I hope there will be more adventures with Cora.

View all my reviews

A Quirk of Destiny (Quirk of Destiny Book 1) by Catherine Greenall – Review by Shelly Kittell

A Quirk of Destiny: Ignoramus et IgnorabimusA Quirk of Destiny: Ignoramus et Ignorabimus by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one terrifying book. I know it’s written as fiction but it sure feels as if it could happen. We hear about GMO type stuff and that all the time. I love a scary thriller that leaves me ont he edge-of-my-seat holding my breath. Calum is on a mission to find out what is going on and why it’s being covered up. Through the story, there are plot twists and turns that take you on the ride for your life with him. Exciting, intriguing, this book had me from the start and I didn’t want to stop until it was done. The characters were fantastic and well-written. The author did a wonderful job in putting the story together. You can tell she did her research. This is intense, top-secret zombie apocalypse type stuff. Great story. I wish I could give more than 5 stars.

View all my reviews

Let It Be Love (A Mustang Prairie Romance Book 5) by N.D. Jackson – Review by Shelly Kittell

Let It Be Love (A Mustang Prairie Romance)Let It Be Love by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, I found this book entertaining and so very romantic. Kiki and Eric are trying to figure out how to make their relationship work. They are dealing with Kiki’s fame. The struggle is real and I found the plot realistic and well-though out. No chunks in it. The characters felt like they could be straight from any small town. They were very easy to relate to. The author dealth with a couple of real life issues in the story which really helped give it that home-town feel. I found my favorite part after the romance was the twist with Louie and a can of whoop ass. There is also redemption in the story for some of the characters. This is a terrific story that gives you all the feelings. I recommend it for all those romance addicts out there. Excellent contemporary romance. It would get more than a 5 star from me if I could give it.

View all my reviews

Paige and the Reluctant Artist by Darci Garcia – Review by Shelly Kittell

Paige and the Reluctant ArtistPaige and the Reluctant Artist by Darci Garcia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Paige is on a mission to sign Mark up with her gallery. His painting of a stallion is beautiful. The problem is that he does not want that. He is wealthy and prefers rescuing horses. She thinks she has figured out how to get what she wants. He thinks he knows what he wants. Can these two get it together and realize they have some chemistry? They both have some baggage to bring to a relationship. They seem to be good for each other but will it work. Oh my goodness, I sure did enjoy this romance. They are a little more mature. The relationship seems to take its time. They aren’t the wham bam, thank you, bye type. I loved how they learned to value what each other did. The whole story lays out like a beautiful paining. My favorite part was the description of Mark’s cologne smelling so good that Paige wanted to lick him. That is a new description for me. A lovely story with wonderful characters. Any romance lover would love this.

View all my reviews

Princess of Prias by Courtney Davis – Review by Shelly Kittell

Princess of PriasPrincess of Prias by Courtney Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fascinating story. Elle grew up not knowing that she is a princess of another world. When she becomes an adult, she learn s of it after the lady that raised her passes on. Quite entertaining due to the humor between Elle and locan as he tries to adjust to Earth to find her. Their travels back to her world are an adventure of intrigue and thrills. There is a bit of romance scattered throughout. I loved reading about the ladies that escaped in the pods to have their children on Earth. I found the characters well-thought out. They kept you wanting to know more. Elle and Locan had chemistry. You could feel the sparks. Warrior was a bit of a grump. The plot was out of this world (pun intended). An entertaining book that engages you from beginning to end. Fans of strong female character romance and fans of fantasy romance will love this story. A new author to me, I will be looking for more of her books to read.

View all my reviews

Undeniable (Central Florida Stories Book 2) by Victoria Saccenti – Review by Shelly Kittell

Undeniable (Central Florida Stories, #2)Undeniable by Victoria Saccenti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! This story is exciting, intriguing and steamy! Arely is a courageous and strong woman. She just speaks her mind as she thinks about it. Kurt finds himself falling for her. Can this romance survive the challenges she faces? The characters are all butt-kickers. They are strong and not afraid to fight to protect one another. The plot is strong and feels realistic. It felt like there was a twist in there. I loved being so engaged in the story that I couldn’t put it down. I gave the family stink eye if they bothered me. You can feel the emotion in the story. The anger, the happiness, the sadness, the lust, it’s all there…totally recommend this story.

View all my reviews

Love in the Roses (Love Through the Ages Book 1) by TL Clark – Review by Shelly Kittell

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

Isabel, daughter of a knight, finds herself promised in marriage. This is during the time of The War of The Roses. This makes it worse because her husband is on the wrong side. Through many adventures, Isabel finds that her father has prepared her for survival. The question is can she? It’s going to be a rough journey during a time when when are seen as property. I enjoyed this historical romance because I found Isabel to be a very strong character. Knock her down and she’ll get back up. She knew how to survive. Her mother taught her skills on the side. She was a very brave woman. The story pulled me in the farther I got. I found the action to be intriguing trying to keep up with who was behind what. I found the intrigue quite entertaining. It is a very good book. A new author to me, I will be looking for more of her books to read.

View all my reviews

Murder Creek (Audio Book) by Jane Suen – Review by Shelly Kittell

I found the narration quite a entertaining addition to the story. She adds attitude and personality to the characters. The story rocks. Strong female sleuth figures out the mystery.   She is up against a town trying to hide the secret of who killed a woman 20 years prior. This was a delightful mystery that had pitfalls and twists at the best spots. Every time I’m thinking I figured it out, here came a curve. I love cozy mysteries because of the humor while you are solving them. I would recommend this to all my cozy mystery fans out there.

Amber Waves of Grace by Jessica Berg – Review By Shelly Kittell

Amber Waves of GraceAmber Waves of Grace by Jessica Berg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

‘Amber Waves of Grace’ is beautiful. A story of second chance love and redemption. Corrie is just trying to help her family with farm and trying to decide which man she is in love with: Aaron or Luke. We also see some holiday miracles. It is an inspirational story that gets you right in the feelers. I love how it is a Christian fiction book. It is clean romance. A very wholesome approach which is also very nice to read. It is a quick read for those weekends that are not booked up. The characters are well-developed. I love the plot. It is very smooth. A truly gifted story that makes you feel good.

View all my reviews

The Lie That Binds by Amy Argent – Review by Shelly Kittell

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

Holly is just trying to find her spot to fit in in her new school. Of course, the popular kids turn out to be jerks. The cutest guy, Nathan, is gorgeous but acts llike an asshole to her. Unbeknownst to her, he is hiding a big secret that he doesn’t want anyone to know. This is a wonderful book. So many emotions were felt as I read this book. The story is so romantic. I found the characters well-written. Evan, Nathan and his parents felt like they were many of families I know that do have members with epilepsy. The students at the high school fit right in with the peer pressure and how the caste systems go. My favorite part was the ending. That was a surprise that as the momma of a kiddo with a disability, I love seeing. The whole plot was well-written and researched. My son has seizures and I found the information the author shared spot on. Hiding the secret was a topic to follow because that’s a young person’s past time for many, especially in this day of social media. This is one of my favorite author’s as she writes books that cover topics that make you think. This book is a great book that young people will like. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.

View all my reviews

The Cool Thing: A Dark Comedy. Or Not. by Robert Rife – Review by Shelly Kittell

The Cool Thing: A Dark Comedy. Or Not.The Cool Thing: A Dark Comedy. Or Not. by Robert Rife
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

‘The Cool Thing’ is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. There’s a little bit of everything in it. It’s a reading smorgasbord for your mind. The characters are quirky and unique. There’s a little comedy, a little science fiction/fantasy, a little romance, and even some horror. I found myself chuckling as I read through the story. You will feel so many things as you read. The story is broken up and told in chapters. This works great because each chapter seems to be a POV for each person. An entertaining story for those that like dark comedy with a touch of everything.

View all my reviews

Insatiable Darkness (The Vigilant Book 0) by LM Preston – Review by Shelly Kittell

Insatiable Darkness (Vigilant, #0.5)Insatiable Darkness by L.M. Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

EmVee is a strong female character that is trying to find her place in the new town she and her family have moved into. Little does she know that it’s a town full of secrets and nothing is as it seems. Two boys like her but no one has time for attachments. With the help of her new BFF Racher, she works to discover the secret her father is hiding. Even being a young adult book, this book is a fascinating fantasy. I was pulled in from the start because she is the child of two professional fighters and is training to be a fighters. That is not something usually seen in teen girls. I love the different approach to the story. Strong female characters are a really nice thing to see. The plot line was flawless and had a really great plot twist. Silas was written in such a way that he felt creepy from the beginning. So pushy and had to be the top jock. Kayson felt like there was more to him, especially at the end. This was a terrific story that has me planning to read more of the series. This is a standalone but there is a series that goes with it.

View all my reviews

I’m Not Your Difference (Fitz Series Book 4) by Theresa Sederholt – Review by Shelly Kittell

I'm Not Your Difference (Fitz, #4)I’m Not Your Difference by Theresa Sederholt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fitz has his hand full with this one. The kids are having issues. Andy is talking to Stephen,who is having issues. He has a case to solve. MJ is his rock and partner during it. He is turning into a “dog with the bone.” He is going to solve these problems and work all these puzzles out. There is drama. suspense, mystery, with a dash of romance and intrigue. The storyline pulls you right in. You are going to not want to stop reading. MJ, Andy, Gail and everyone else are so great to work with. They are so realistic that they could people you know. There are plot twist that will get you every time you think you know who did it. What an original series and such a wonderful read. I’m looking forward to more from this author. Highly recommend. I would give it more than a 5 star if I could.

View all my reviews

It Will Always Be Us (Fitz Series Book 3) by Theresa Sederholt – Review by Shelly Kittell

It Will Always Be UsIt Will Always Be Us by Theresa Sederholt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow!!!! This has to be my favorite of the Fitz series yet. He has become a P.I. now and is on his own at an agency. Gail has brought him a case from her friend. This case involves a sudden death, mysterious numbers and many secrets. Again, so well-written that the plot with several plot lines and plot twists tie together so smooth that there are no glitches. The characters bitch and fight like they could be your friends. The book is written in a casual tone that it feels good to read. I can feel emotions come off the page. Fitz and his friends and family are pretty amazing at solving these cases. Gail describes Fitz as a ”dog with a bone.” Yep, I would agree. He will find out what’s going on. This is a new author to me and I’m loving this series.

View all my reviews

Silent Innocence (Fitz Series Book 2) by Theresa Sederholt – Review by Shelly Kittell

Silent Innocence (Fitz, #2)Silent Innocence by Theresa Sederholt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Intense! Thrilling! This is one of those books you find yourself holding your breath while you’re reading it. Fitz has his hands full this time. He’s supposed to be on a 3-month vacation but gets called in to consult on a case. Well, we all know how that usually ends up. He gets enmeshed in a high-profile case. Little Stella becomes a very important person to him as he tries to unravel this case. The intensity of this case has you wanting to keep turning one more page to find out what’s next. Who did it? I love the plot twists? Oh yeah, and MJ is due with the baby soon, so that’s on his mind during this. Man, his plate is overflowing. Another well-writing knockout story that I loved. The story pulled me in right from the start. The characters are like your friends. They just feel like buddies. The whole tone of the book has a casual feel (for a romantic suspense). It’s perfect and a wonderful book.

View all my reviews

Uniquely Mine (Fitz Series Book 1) by Theresa Sederholt – Review by Shelly Kittell

Uniquely Mine (Fitz, #1)Uniquely Mine by Theresa Sederholt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an amazing story! Fitz is an incredible detective hunting down a twisted killer. He is trying to protect MJ, his childhood friend. She is the owner of a BDSM agency that is being targeted. The romance and suspense are intense and full of intrigue. This killer is a sick monster that wants to be caught and is teasing Fitz. The characters are so well=developed that you can honestly feel the emotions coming off them as they are trying to protect MJ and find the sick killer. All MJ wants is to protect her clients and her job. You can feel the pull between the antagonist and the protagonist. I was pulled in right from the start and couldn’t stop until the end. I finished this one in a day. The plot had a good flow and a few plot twists thrown in made it outstanding. What a great book! Romantic suspense lovers will love it.

View all my reviews

On Viking Seas (The Forerunner Saga Series Book 3) by Jay Veloso Batista – Review by Shelly Kittell

On Viking Seas (Forerunner Series)On Viking Seas by Jay Veloso Batista
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an adventure this story is. This book has adventure, suspense and thrills for all too enjoy set in the time of the Vikings. I have loved this trilogy. Intense adventures that grab you on page 1 and don’t let go until you finish. Thorafinn and his friends will take you on the Viking journey of a lifetime. The characters are so well-written. This is book 3 and they feel like old friends by know. Finn has become like a little buddy. The plot flows because you can tell the author did his research into the timeline when he wrote the story. It all wraps up like a nice package, even a nice little boat troll. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fantastic fantasy series. You really need to hit that one-click. I promise you, you’ll love this series.

View all my reviews

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

Death & Mirrors: All Things Dark & Deadly, Book OneDeath & Mirrors: All Things Dark & Deadly, Book One by S.F. Benson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is fantastic. Evaline is a strong young woman who may have some fears about using her magic and saving the worlds but she is going to do it. She is on a search for the treasure that will kill the creature trying to destroy the worlds…plus she is up against her father’s archaic views of trying to marry her off. Full of suspense, intrigue and adventures with a dash of romance, you surely won’t be disappointed with this story. Evaline is a strong protagonist that goes up against some mean characters. Well-written, the plot really flows well together. There are even a few plot twists thrown in for good measures. I love how the characters are written and how well they all mesh together even though they are so different. It amazes me with the archaic views of fathers trying to marry off their daughters, and it’s never for love. Ugh! The tone is humor with serious. It’s an enjoyable read that the young adults, even the older adults will enjoy.

View all my reviews

Shake Down (First Coast Thriller Book 1) by Armand Rosamilia – Review by Shelly Kittell

Shake Down (First Coast Thriller Series)Shake Down by Armand Rosamilia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an intense, adventure story. You are sucked in straight from the beginning. Well-written with the tone of a true Floridian spy novel, the characters all seem to have secrets they are hiding. The main plot has twists and turns that have you questioning as you think you know who did it. Clayton is a protagonist just trying to figure out the right thing to do for his daughter. Everywhere he turns are antagonists. This is an excellent story with the suspense, a shot at romance, thriller, and adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think adventure lovers out there will love it too.

View all my reviews

Enchanted in Time by Nikki Lynn Barrett – Review by Shelly Kittell

Enchanted in TimeEnchanted in Time by Nikki Lynn Barrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful story. Roxanne is recovering from the loss of her husband and son. She is offered a caregiving position with Claudette Grayson, a famous author that she idolizes. Little does Roxanne realize that she has walked into a magical mystery that will change her life forever. Full of intrigue, romance, suspense, mystery and a bit of enchantment/time-travel, the story will grab you by the hand the minute you start it and pull you right in. You will find that you must know what happens after every page. I couldn’t put it down. Phillip is the mystery man of intrigue and I had to know who he was and what was going on. The story is so well-written. Claudette is so set on her story being finished that you can’t help but wonder why. The mystery of who Phillip is and why he is is a primary question. The intrigue of what happened between Margaret and Phillip? So many questions to be answered. I love the plot twists. The plot even flowed smooth for having a few diversions. The characters were well-intertwined. Every one had their individual part but also played a key role. I didn’t see Renee’s surprise coming. I found that the trapped in time/enchantment theme worked really well. The climax of the book played out well. I wasn’t too sure at first but as it was explained, it all came out so well. A great book that I feel many will love. Highly recommend.

View all my reviews

To be a Fae Guardian (Realm Chronicles Book 2) Audio Book by Tricia Copeland – Review by Shelly Kittell

This story is so packed full of action, adventure, suspense, and intrigue. Titania is one of my favorite fantasy characters. She is badass and strong by putting her kingdom and people before everything else. She really isn’t afraid to break laws to protect people. This is book 2 of the series and continues Titania’s adventures of dealing with consequences of trying to protect the kingdom. Now one person is facing those consequences. Can she save him and her kingdom? She has so much pressure all around her and secrets to hide. The author does a great job in writing her and developing the plot around her struggles. It’s been a delight to listen this story. I’ve enjoyed going through and hearing Titania battle through and get what she needs. I have read this story but to listen to it on audio gives it a whole new level of comprehension because you can picture it, listen and basically create your own picture in your mind. It’s another level of imagination. The narrator did a great job of changing the voices around and giving excitement to the story. She kept the story going. I really enjoyed the story. Everything came together and made it all work.

Levi (The Brothers of Creekside Ranch Book 1) by Edith Mackenzie – Review by Shelly Kittell

LeviLevi by Edith Mackenzie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Levi” is a romantic adventure that was entertaining as well as heart breaking. Levi and his brothers moved back home to take care of there younger sister. He got a call to help a friend “hide” someone. Voila, he had a new nanny. Bella, not a regular nanny, grew into the job while hiding out. A romance grew but would it last? What would happen to Levi’s sister? Oh, you’ll have to read it to find out, cause I’m not telling. You’ll enjoy it. I loved the book. The plot is fabulous with a twist or two. The characters are uniquely written. You feel the emotion in the story. It makes for a memorable book. Highly recommend.

View all my reviews

Notebook Mysteries ~ Emma (Notebook Mysteries Book 1) Audio Book by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Shelly Kittell

Outstanding Story

Emma is an exciting story based in 1881,. She is a young girl that gets herself involved in mysteries and adventures that she probably shouldn’t. But hey, she’s an adventurous, brave and courageous young girl that enjoys solving problems. The story is well-written and full of mystery and suspense. It’s even full of good sounding food. The mystery focuses around a bakery so there are recipes for some yummy deserts. Emma introduces us to her friends that will help her solve the mystery. This is a fun and quick listen for a teen. The narration is okay. I do wish there could have been a little more variety to the voice. The narration was a tad monotone. Overall, it was a good experience and I do recommend this for your teen/youth age group. Fun book that I enjoyed.

Someone Exactly Like Me (Wounded Hearts Series Book 1) by Debbie Cromack – Review by Shelly Kittell

Someone Exactly Like Me (Wounded Hearts, #1)Someone Exactly Like Me by Debbie Cromack
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Destiny is a romance author suffering writer’s block. Nicco is a fantastic romance actor. These two are brought together by Destiny’s childhood friend, Cindy. This was a beautiful romance story because it gave the glimpse of the realistic struggle of the relationship. It was a little slow at the beginning; hence, the slow burn, but the action soon picked up. The characters felt real. You felt their pain, their love for each other. You felt every emotion they went through. This is a book that slowly pulls you in and you find that you just can’t stop. You will want to follow Nicco and Destiny’s story. The plot runs smooth with a twist or two, love it! I can’t tell anymore, you’ll have to read it. It’s so worth it.

View all my reviews

Mermaid and the Water Magnifying Glass (Mermaid Science Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shelly Kittell

The Mermaid and the Water Magnifying Glass (Mermaid Science, #3)The Mermaid and the Water Magnifying Glass by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Trezzie, Mia and Fig are back again. This time, we get to learn about magnifying glass. Trezzie found a rock with a pattern. They needed to look at it closer. One of the reasons I love the mermaid books is that they give ideas of hands-on science. The ideas in this book for magnifying glass are cool and things that kids can do a home. The story is fun and engaging. The information is relevant. The pictures are bright and colorful. My favorite science stories to read to my grandchildren. I recommend highly for all younger children.

View all my reviews

Truth or Kill (Twisted Legends Collection Book 1) by A.C. Kramer – Review by Shelly Kittell

Truth or Kill (Twisted Legends Collection, #2)Truth or Kill by A.C. Kramer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sydney thought she was going away for a week vacation but she walked into a sick revenge game. Kage , part of a trio of brothers out for revenge, fell for Sydney. This dark romance is full of intense twists, turns and lots of unknown adventures. The steam is there as well. I found the story exciting and found myself wanting to find out what was coming up next. The twists are what kept me going. The characters were fairly well-developed. Spoiled rich kids with secrets were due to get their come-uppance. You found yourself rooting for the ones you didn’t expect to. The book has an air of suspense and that’s what I loved about it.

View all my reviews

The Vilification of Aqua Marine by Megan Mackie – Review by Shelly Kittell

The Vilification of Aqua Marine (Working Mask, #1)The Vilification of Aqua Marine by Megan Mackie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rhiannon, aka Aqua Marine, is undergoing many of the struggles some of us may feel empathy with. I found this book quite entertaining. Though the story takes a few plot twists, the humor is enough that my family wanted to know why I was chuckling. I found the characters relatable, even being superheros. Rhiannon could be any of us. The author has a way of writing that makes you chuckle and laugh as you read. I love this author’s writing. It’s contemporary and has a way of pulling you in all the way until the end. I was engaged from the start and couldn’t put it down until the end. You have to try this one. I know you won’t be sorry. Fantasy lovers must read this one.

View all my reviews