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A Heart So Savage (The Savage Duet Book 2) by April Moran – Review by Shelly Kittell

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A Heart So Savage (The Savage Duet #2)A Heart So Savage by April Moran
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book packed just as much of a punch as the first in this duet. Ava is still being held hostage by Kingston but the action starts and things begin to change as the story goes on. I found the action and family/mob drama to kind of exciting throughout the story. The spicy romance level is off the charts but there is a darkness to it. The story had a fairly smooth flow throughout the whole piece. I found the whole duet to be good overall. This is definitely mean to be read together, not as a standalone.

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Song of Earth and Claws (Faelands Series) by Lena Abram – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Song of Earth and ClawsSong of Earth and Claws by Lena Abram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lannahi turned out to be a strong character that many underestimated. This story at times felt like a milder version of Game of Thrones (cleaner). Who could she trust? I felt her siblings were lying and manipulative jerks. The one she thought she loved turned out to be be a putz. Duals weren’t good but she had to do it to survive. An action filled story with drama, a little romance, and fantasy that made for a really exciting book that I couldn’t put down. The characters were well developed. You could feel from their descriptions what kind of person they were. This is a cool book and well worth the read.

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Nessie and the Living Stone (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Nessie and the Living Stone (Nessie's Grotto)Nessie and the Living Stone by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this childrens story to be entertaining. I read it to my grandson at bedtime and we had some nice conversations over the adventures of the children and Nessie. The author always has some wonderful lessons to be learned in the story. This was a different story than we were used to reading from this author previously yet we enjoyed it very much. My grandson loved hearing about the Loch Ness Monster after the story and talking about Nessie. He has a big imagination and this author’s story always help kick his imagination into gear even more. I was not aware that there are two to this book. We’ll have to go back and read the other.

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The Alien & the Crime Boss by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The Alien & the Crime BossThe Alien & the Crime Boss by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Alien & Crime Boss was a surprising story. A M/M romance that has the alien busting out his inner warrior to protect the crime boss who has found him. I can’t give away too much but it’s a story full of drama, adventure and some out-of-this world romance. These two go through a lot right from the beginning. It’s very interesting to watch this relationship develop because the characters are really from two different worlds. We get to watch them learn what love really is. It’s a good book for those interested in this trope.

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The Magic Man Audiobook (The Olympic Peninsula Book 3) by Cat Treadgold – Review by Shelly Kittell

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5/5 stars

Yay, I love that we got to have another in this series. As with all the others, this one lived up to the others. We have a strong female character in Maddie. She goes through a lot of challenges. David O’Connell comes home to join his family and meets Maggie. This is one relationship that I enjoyed watching develop and grow. They have chemistry and were able to work through things. We also got to see familiar faces from the previous books. The narration was good. I do wish the male voice could have been done by a male but it was good. I enjoyed listening to the story. This author really does wonderful writing.

Lost Property (The Tom Grant Series Book 6) by Samantha Adair – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Lost Property: A Tom Grant Novel (The Tom Grant Series Book 6)Lost Property: A Tom Grant Novel by Samantha Adair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story was so intriguing. Operation Sweetpea showed up at James door in the form of Annika and Melody. Tom, retired, was brought in to help. He, Iz, and the gang jumped right back in. I found this story full of adventures, drama and lots of twists. Benita is one sneaky, crazy chick. The story had me engaged right from the start. The author has a way of writing that pulls you in right from the start. The topic was relevant in today’s world and handled in way that kept things interesting and you wanted to see what happened. A great book. Fantastic characters.

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The Uncrowned King (The Blood Prince Series) by Ayla Marie – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The Uncrowned King (The Blood Prince, #2)The Uncrowned King by Ayla Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book 2 in The Blood Prince. First, you will want to read book 2 if you haven’t. It is best read in order. The author sets things up in book 1. This book is terrific. The author continues the saga with adventure, drama, so many twists and turns. I found this story so intriguing because of it. It is billed as a YA/Fantasy but anyone would love it. It’s one of those books that you can’t set down once you start. It’s really got a bit of everything for you. The author is still in HS and shows such great talent as writing this. I can’t wait for book 3 to see what’s coming next. I’ve been on the edge-of-my-seat-so-far and I’m sure I’ll be again for the next one. Again, you should check this series out.

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Sweet Dreams by Claire (Capture the Light Series) by Nanette Littlestone – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Sweet Dreams by Claire (Capture the Light, #2)Sweet Dreams by Claire by Nanette Littlestone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a darling romance. I loved watching the relationship develop between Claire and Finn, especially when it began after he knocked her down while riding his bike. This was a sweet story that had such beautiful descriptions of Ireland. The author certainly added beautiful touches to the story. I loved how the earrings added a magical touch of bakery smells to Claire’s senses as she went through her days. It added a delightful and delicious touch to the tale. Such fun characters and an entertaining story make for a tale that you just can’t pass up.

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Auctioned Surrender (Sinful Duets Book 2) by Via Mari – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Auctioned Surrender (Sinful Duets #2)Auctioned Surrender by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is as amazing as Whispered Surrender was. Both women are strong in their own ways and try to protect those they love. The men assigned to protect them have their hands full. I enjoyed these stories because they are full of action, romance (steamy at times), have mafia involvement, and are able to keep me engaged the whole way through. You just can’t put the book down. I found the characters quite intriguing. They fit so well into the story. I love this security firm. Such strong men on the outside, yet teddy bears on the inside. They would do anything for the woman they love. These are fantastic stories if you like dark romance, mafia, strong women. I highly recommend this book.

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Recipe For Revenge (An April May Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Hazel Smith – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Recipe For Revenge: An Unputdownable Small Town Cozy Murder Mystery (An April May Cozy Mystery Book Book 2)Recipe For Revenge: An Unputdownable Small Town Cozy Murder Mystery by Hazel Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an entertaining and totally unputdownable mystery. I found April May to be one the most intriguing characters that I’ve read in a cozy mystery this year. She’s torn between wanting to go back to the big city and staying in the small town she’s in. Wesley sounds like an adorable vet. My mind pictures Mat from Fuller House. Adorable. I loved the mystery because it seemed to have its own little subsets branching out. The cast of characters was perfect for a small town mystery. I couldn’t stop reading this once I started. It’s fun, humorous and will have you giggling as you figure out who the culprit is. A wonderful book. I’m going to have to go back and read the first book.

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Seraphina (Heartstrings Series) by Brooke May – Review by Shelly Kittell

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SeraphinaSeraphina by Brooke May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adore the Cupid series. Seraphina had me chuckling. She’s a little grumpy because she’s stuck with Josh again. She’s tried twice to match him to no avail. Maybe the third time will be the charm. I found this story quite entertaining. You felt like you were right there, whether it was with Seraphina, Seth, or Marron. It’s humorous and serious at the same time. As a society, there is a fascination with celebrities. We want to see and imagine what it’s like to have what they have. I enjoyed this story because it fed that fascination. Seraphina brings together two people with their own sets of issues and it somehow all worked out fine after some guided adventures. It can be read as a standalone. I recommend the whole series. They are all wonderful.

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Tropic Heat (Flamingo Island Series) by C.A. King – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Tropic HeatTropic Heat by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, I didn’t see that coming. Our jilted groom has a con woman for a bride. He meets a cop trying to break the ring. Throw in some hot, steamy romance that will have you feel like you are in the tropics. This was a fun read. I enjoyed the chemistry between our groom and cop. When they were reading the pickup lines, I about fell off my chair. I have had a few of those used on me. That was a treat to read. I felt bad for his besty having no luck and getting drunk with the turtle. But hey, the turtle is like a bartender. Lots of adventure, romance and fun. This a great weekend read if you’re looking for a quick read.

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Porter and Midge: Paws and Playtime: A Kid’s Guide to a Happy Dog (Porter and Midge Children’s Book Series) by Jennie Chen and Giselle Nevada – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Porter and Midge: Paws and Playtime: A Kid's Guide to a Happy Dog (Porter and Midge Children’s Book Series)Porter and Midge: Paws and Playtime: A Kid’s Guide to a Happy Dog by Giselle Nevada
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fun story with tips and ideas of entertaining ways to have fun with your dog. There are ideas of places to go to meet other dog owners. There are ideas of how to help your dog enjoy these activities. The illustrations are bright and colorful. The whole story is done in a rhyming rhythm which makes it quite fun to read. At the end of the book there is a not to parents which gives ideas on how to help your children with animals. This is a really neat book to add to a home library or any library.

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A King So Savage (The Savage Duet) by April Moran – Review by Shelly Kittell

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A King So Savage (The Savage Duet #1)A King So Savage by April Moran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic story. I realize that the author is new to this genre. I think she has done a great job with this dark mafia story. Ava finds herself stuck with King because her brother is a jerk and left her with his debts. I enjoyed the chemistry and verbal foreplay as they grew into this relationship. It did have its dark moments but those sparks flew. I found the story had just the right amount of suspense. The romance, steamy and not, was off the charts. I was in it from the beginning all the way to the end. This is a book that I definitely recommend if you are a mafia romance lover.

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The Magic Man (The Olympic Peninsula Book 3) by Cat Treadgold – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The Magic Man (The Olympic Peninsula series Book 3)The Magic Man by Cat Treadgold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yay, I love that we got to have another in this series. As with all the others, this one lived up to the others. We have a strong female character in Maddie. She goes through a lot of challenges. David O’Connell comes home to join his family and meets Maggie. This is one relationship that I enjoyed watching develop and grow. They have chemistry and were able to work through things. We also got to see familiar faces from the previous books. The author does a wonderful job of giving us some complex stories that keep you engaged and reading. When you finish, you want more. In this, I hope there will be more. This is a romance series that I will always recommend because you end up thinking, enjoying and relating to them.

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To Catch An Elf by Debra Parmley – Review by Shelly Kittell

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To Catch An Elf: Pennsylvania Fighter PilotTo Catch An Elf: Pennsylvania Fighter Pilot by Debra Parmley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh man, this is holiday elf goes creepy. I have to say I absolutely loved this book. The farther in you get, the more you get intrigued and don’t want to put it down. There are many twists and turns. I love the suspense. Oh my goodness, this book has a little for everything for the romantic suspense lover. It’s intense, creepy and dangerous with some steamy romance. A defintie winner in my book.

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Mission Improbable: Vietnam (A Blanche Murninghan Mystery) by Nancy Nau Sullivan – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Mission Improbable: Vietnam (Blanche Murninghan Mystery, #3)Mission Improbable: Vietnam by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an intriguing mystery. There are bits of culture in it. I love the fact that we get bits of Blanche’s life and bits of Jean’s. I fell into it right from the beginning. I found Blanche to be a breathe of fresh air. She’s down to earth and tells it like it is. This a really riveting story because it focuses around secrets. It’s one that I’d recommend to mystery lovers.

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Alien Redemption by Gloria Oliver – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Alien RedemptionAlien Redemption by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this story to be absolutely fascinating. Claudia has a past and is trying to stay on the down-low. She applies for the only job she can and winds up on ship of low-lifes, except for the first mate. The captain is a real piece of work. I loved how Claudia worked to redeem herself,which wasn’t easy on that ship. Claudia turned out to be a strong character who just wanted to do what’s right. I have to applaud her. It’s a good book that had me engaged right from the start. There’s a lot of action, a bit of romance, and some suspense. It’s one I recommend.

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Lela’s Choice by Jennifer Raines – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Lela's ChoiceLela’s Choice by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book. Hamish and Lela are hunting for Sophie and Peter in Malta. While they are doing this, they fall in love themselves. The chemistry between these two is perfect. It felt like it started as a slow burn because Papa was in the middle, as he always is. I loved watching these two work out their relationship as they went along. It was a satisfying resolve to the problem for everyone. This is such a wonderful series. The story was well-done and well-developed. The characters were thought out and defined with very unique personalities. Another that I wholeheartedly recommend. I couldn’t put this one down.

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Triple Trouble at Amberwood (The Amberwood Hall Ballet School Series) by Eleanor Dixon – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Triple Trouble at Amberwood: Book Four in your favourite middle-grade haunted ballet school... (Amberwood Hall Ballet School 4)Triple Trouble at Amberwood: Book Four in your favourite middle-grade haunted ballet school… by Eleanor Dixon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh how I enjoy these stories. They are perfect for the middle school age group. The middle-schoolers in the stories are such a fun group. There are few that can see the ghosts which makes it even more entertaining. I loved the mystery they had this time. The writing is perfect. The characters are well-developed for the audience written to. I recommend this series to the upper elementary to middle-school crowd.

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Dreamscape (J.J. Morris Mysteries) by J.N. Sheats – Review by Shelly Kittell

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DreamscapeDreamscape by J.N. Sheats
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an interesting book. I was pulled in from the start by the intriguing descriptions. This is a fascinating book with the descriptions of characters and what’s going on the story. I found that there is a little of everything. There is some mystery/suspense, paranormal. Fantasy, and more. It was a wonderful story that kept me engaged until the end. I came in on the second book. I will have to go back and read the first book now. I definitely recommend this one.

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A Journey for Dorothy (The Reluctant Wagon Train Bride Series) by P. Creeden – Review by Shelly Kittell

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A Journey for Dorothy (The Reluctant Wagon Train Bride #8)A Journey for Dorothy by P. Creeden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a beautiful love story. Two people heading out West with basically their faith in God. I found this a wonderful story with it’s faith intertwined in the story. Dorothy and Elias are both strong characters that go through a lot and come together in this beautiful story. I love strong writing that is big on faith and inspirational. Those are two items found in this story. Elias does a lot of preparation for this trip to make sure it his calling. Dorothy kind of flew by the seat of her pants, not by her choice. The story showed us that God works in miraculous ways. I recommend this one.

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Carrie’s Flight (Grandma’s Closet) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shelly Kitttell

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Carrie's Flight (Grandma's Closet)Carrie’s Flight by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carrie found a pair of antique wings that used to be her Grandmothers. I found it fascinating how the story built around the movement of birds in flight. This story was about starlings. It was also about sharing memories with generational memories. Every book this author writes is always fascinating because there is a little tidbit in there about family. This is a science learning book about Starlings. I found out some new tidbits about Starlings in the information section included at the end of the story. A beautiful story that I recommend for any home with children.

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Children of the Wild (Children of the Wild Series) by Krysta Tawlks – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Children of the WildChildren of the Wild by Krysta Tawlks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a fascinating story. I loved the shapeshifting aspect to it. The historical part of the story was similar to Tuck Everlasting, as had been recommended. I have never read that book. I did find this story attention keeping, able to draw me in and quite intriguing. I found the characters to be developed very well. The detail was good. It’s a story that I’ll read to my grandson when he’s a little older. I believe it’ll grab his attention.

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Festive Fates: 11 Spirited Holiday Tales Anthology by SE Smith, Jill Wallace, Eliza Sinclair, Kyndra Hatch, Candace Colt, Natalie Palma, Winnie Winkle, Electra Gajdos, Stephanie Harrell, Pauline Baird Jones, Cassandra Chandler – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Festive Fates: 11 Spirited Holiday TalesFestive Fates: 11 Spirited Holiday Tales by Natalie Palma
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are some truly entertaining tales found in this book. I found alien tales to paranormal. There’s a little of everything. I loved them all because they made me chuckle. It was the perfect read to start the holiday season off with. It isn’t something I would normally have picked up and I am truly glad that the book was recommended to me. I am now recommending it to romance lovers out there. It’s a wonderful holiday read full of short romance reads that are perfect to fill time whether you’re at home or maybe waiting at an appointment, etc. Go ahead, hit that One-Click, you won’t be sorry.

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Whispered Surrender (Sinful Duets Book 1) by Via Mari – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Whispered Surrender (Sinful Duets #1)Whispered Surrender by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a duet collection that you must have. These two stories are the most intense, thrilling, dramatic, adventurous, and most steamy ones that I have read in a while. I couldn’t put the book down. This author is known for her magnificent writing when it comes to mafia stories. This does not disappoint at all. The writing is most engaging and very contemporary. You are sucked right in from the start. The characters are both endearing and adventurous. They are both good and naughty. I couldn’t get enough and I can’t wait to get into book 2 of the Sinful Duets collection.

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A Christmas Amish Courtship (Amish Courtship Series) by Jennifer Spredemann – Review by Shelly Kittell

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A Christmas Amish Courtship (Amish Courtship #3)A Christmas Amish Courtship by Jennifer Spredemann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a sweet holiday inspired, yet it can be read anytime, romance. Andy and Anne had both gone through some relationship hardships. Andy came back into the fold and had hoped to court Anne. He went about it in a different way. He was a secret pen pal. This intrigued Anne to say the least. Watching this relationship grow and develop was heartwarming and endearing. They did have struggles and were able to get through them. I really enjoyed the story. You felt the emotions. The characters were very relatable. Anne’s family were very supportive of her. It’s a beautiful story that showed God is always with you. A story that I highly recommend.

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Wicked Ends: A Dark College Bully Romance (Hidden Valley Elite Series, Book 8 ) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Wicked Ends (Hidden Valley Elite #8)Wicked Ends by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A bittersweet time, the end has come to this series. We pick up where Wicked Games left of with Shane and Winter. These two have already been through so much. Much of this book is spent dealing with and resolving the issues from their past. Many of the mysteries are solved. I do believe that these two turned into my favorite couple for resilience and strength. The battles they went through. The gang was in this story also: Cole, Damon, Phoenix, Riley, Skylar and Aspen. Mom and Grandad. Even Uncle Lucas had some issues resolved. The book will tie things up. I recommend you read this series in order. It really isn’t meant to be a standalone. It is one of the best darn series I’ve read. My favorite for the year.

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Master of the Abyss by Rob Samborn – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Master of the Abyss (Painted Souls, #3)Master of the Abyss by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nick and Julia are back in this final installment of the Painted Souls trilogy. This has been an incredible series. The author has done a meticulous job of researching details and such to include in this story. His writing is engaging as you read about the cult’s continued efforts to dominate. If you like mystery and suspense, this is one series that I would recommend. I would definitely say to read it in order.

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Dangerous Rhythm by C.R. Alam – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Dangerous Rhythm (The Echo Series, #4)Dangerous Rhythm by C.R. Alam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved the chemistry between Lina and Curtis. It wasn’t stated when they saw each other in the doorway but you felt it because they had a history. This case with the Stiletto family has brought him into danger and all he was trying to do was the right thing. Lina’s job is to protect him. I found the energy and thrill in the writing kept me enthralled right from the beginning. Lina is so RBF that you felt her face showed nothing. When they picked up his parents, that was the best. I fell off my couch laughing. Who cannot relate to that scene? Oh my goodness, the writing is awesome. I felt the suspense, the danger, the thrill and everything else in the story. The mother-daughter tension. It’s a great read that I definitely recommend for romantic suspense lovers.

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