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The Strategist (WaterFyre Rising Book 5) by Nadia Han – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The Strategist (WaterFyre Rising, #5)The Strategist by Nadia Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is wow! This is a romantic suspense with some kick-ass that will leave you in awe. Arrow and Vivian are two people that want to fight the attraction as they have different focus. They will eventually come together to rescue a little one in trouble. The action is palpable and the romance is great. I love this author’s writing. This is a fantastic series that often leaves me feeling that I’ve just been on a wild ride. These are some fantastic characters that will take you for a ride as they are on their mission. I can’t get enough of this series.

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Kris & The Cowboys (The Adventures of Kris) by Art Blegen – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Kris & The Cowboys: The Adventures of KrisKris & The Cowboys: The Adventures of Kris by Art Blegen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a neat story. Kris has a fun imagination. Her great-uncle won’t let her go on the cattle drive so she dives into a story about cowboys and off she goes on a fantastic imaginative journey. I love her courage to do whatever anyone else does. She’ll do what the adults don’t. She does a brave act to rescue Patches. The characters are quite interesting, and the story keeps kids engaged. My grandchildren enjoyed hearing this at storytime. I do hope we might get some more Kris adventures down the road.

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Under the Bandage by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Under the BandageUnder the Bandage by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story rocks. It makes learning about healing wounds so much fun. The descriptions are really adaptable to a child’s level. The illustrations are so colorful and fun. The information on the healing process is bite-sized. Being an adult, I enjoyed reading this story. This would be a cool book to have in doctor’s offices to help kiddos. It’s a definite in family libraries. You must check this one out.

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Summer of Mud by Rebecca Bischoff – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Summer of MudSummer of Mud by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an amazing read. I was hooked the moment I started it. A story of basically growing up and learning what family is. This story will tug at your heart strings. You will definitely feel every emotion. The main characters are so wonderfully written. A story of two siblings trying to survive and understand each other and the choices made. This is also the story of a community in Idaho that pulled together after a natural disaster. It’s a beautiful story that I couldn’t put down. I recommend you give this a read.

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The Ghostly Diva (Divine Vintage Series) by Sandra L. Young – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The Ghostly Diva (Divine Vintage)The Ghostly Diva by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Justine and Jackson are thrown together by circumstances beyond their control. His mother’s clothing may help save the museum but when she goes to look through it, she’s stranded with him. He’s a tad grumpy. I loved this because their is a paranormal aspect with some ghosts, including Jackson’s mother and a mystery to solve around Jackson’s father. There is humor scattered throughout the story. I love the story. There is chemistry between Jackson and Justine. The question is, will it work? They have two different sets of life goals. I had fun trying to figure out where it was going and what was Liza going to do. It’s another excellent entry in this series. Great story, wonderful characters. You should check out the whole series.

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Healing Hearts: Gene & Amanda’s Story (The Echo Series) by C.R. Alam – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Healing Hearts (Echo #0.5)Healing Hearts by C.R. Alam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this to be such a good story. We had the healing from the accident. Gene and Amanda’s story had roots from high school. I felt every emotion watching that relationship grow and go through it’s pains. The second part of that story was Amanda trying to get people to believe that she had seen the girl run out in front of her. This author does such a wonderful job of tying in romance with mystery/suspense. Watching him put his faith in her as he’s struggling with his logical side really hit me in the feels. It’s a very emotional story. All the characters were wonderful. Everyone had their place and the substories all tied up together nicely. This series has been one of my favorites because of this. Well done! If you haven’t read this series, you should.

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The Rake (Daughters of Dishonour Series) by Ava Bond – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The Rake (Daughters of Dishonour #1)The Rake by Ava Bond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Though I normally don’t read this genre, I found this one quite enjoyable. There was a little of everything: steamy romance, murder mystery, etc. This story had me hooked right off the bat. These two characters felt so opposite that I had to read to see what happened. The writing was good. The characters had such unique personalities. Lots of drama and action make this a romance mystery that I would recommend.

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Come Home to Death by Marilyn Levinson – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Come Home to DeathCome Home to Death by Marilyn Levinson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an outstanding thriller. Erica found herself in a bind when she learns her husband isn’t who she thinks she is. Then a bunch of shady characters pop into the picture. Erica goes home to Marondale and learns that she can trust no one because she will be coming into a large inheritance for her 25th birthday. This has someone trying to kill her to keep their deception secret. Can Erica survive this? This book left me feeling like I should be looking over my shoulder and I don’t have any riches to protect. I absolutely loved the writing. It felt thrilling. You felt your pulse reacting to every emotion. You’ll have fun trying to figure out what’s going on. Yes, I’m a bit twisted because I enjoy reading psychological thrillers. In the end, everything might come together or might not. You will have to find out. Are you up to it?

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The School of Nine by Amanda Marin – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The School of Nine (The Mythic Academy Collection, #1)The School of Nine by Amanda Marin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really cool story. I loved how it was about Muses-in-training. There was a mystery to be solved. The urban and paranormal mixed into the writing quite nicely. I enjoyed the writing and the characters. I find that when you have characters who are deceitful, that tends to catch and keep my attention. It’s a wonderful short read with lots of drama and action. A quick, fast-paced read.

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Mealtime At The Zoo by James William son – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Mealtime at the Zoo: PB&J CaféMealtime at the Zoo: PB&J Café by James Williamson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s time for the PBJ at the zoo. Our friend, the monkey server, takes us around the zoo to tell us what the animals prefer on their sandwiches. I found this to be quite the entertaining story. It’s done in a fun rhyming rhythm. The Illustrations are bright and colorful. This is a story that will catch children’s attention. It’s fun for the little ones right on us to the ones reading it to them It would be a wonderful addition to the family library.

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Master Oradea (Masters of the Consulate Book 10) by Sylvia Black – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Master Oradea (Masters of the Consulate #10)Master Oradea by Sylvia Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those stories that you can’t tell much about or you give it away. Oradea and Natalia are meant for each other. It just takes them time to realize it. Just a few obstacles get in the way: rogues; brothers; and witches. It’s a fast-paced story that will have you feeling like you are chasing rogues with them. I’m a big fan of multiple POV’s. It makes the story feel personal. Familiar faces make appearances. Everyone is chasing the rogues from Descalia down. There is some steam that will have you wiping off your glasses. It does end with a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next one

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Marshmallow Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Marshmallow RabbitMarshmallow Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story. The owner is trying to teach the young girl about stealing. The story is entertaining, fun and tries to teach a lesson. The characters are witty with their conversation in trying to catch each other. I read this with my grandson. He gave it a 5. I also give it a 5. This is probably our favorite yet. We are still talking about ways to help protect the candy from thieves and how the little old ladies could have helped. It’s a fun story and a great conversation starter to jump start the imagination.

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Kris & The Missing Prince (The Adventures of Kris) by Art Blegen – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Kris & The Missing Prince: The Adventures Of KrisKris & The Missing Prince: The Adventures Of Kris by Art Blegen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another fun and exciting adventure with Kris. I sure wish I had an imagination that vivid and exciting. This is a fun adventure where Kris doesn’t just settle for being a little princess. She’s the knight that rescues the prince. I have to say I snorted when she took the neighbor boy out at the knees. She’s got spunk. This is a fun story set for the young ones but those of mature can enjoy it too. Brings back memories. I’m going to look forward to going on more adventures with Kris. I have lots of grandkids to share this with. We can use our imagination together.

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Break Bone Fever (Finnerty and Liccione Mystery Series) by Wanda Venters, MD and Mary Rae, MD – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Break Bone Fever (A Finnerty and Liccione Mystery, #1)Break Bone Fever by Mary Rae
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a wonderful mystery. This is a new author to me. I found the story engaging. Once I picked it up and started, there was no putting it down. You felt like you were part of the team solving it. I enjoyed the little subplots. They wrapped up nicely back into the primary story. I’m a huge fan of any type of medical mystery. This one had a bit of everything. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

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4 R’s: Roped, Risked, Rescued, Romanced (4 R’s Series) by Julie Castle – Review by Shelly Kittell

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4 R's: Roped, Rescued, Risked, Romanced4 R’s: Roped, Rescued, Risked, Romanced by Julie Castle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an amazing set. I really enjoyed this author’s writing. I’m going to have to say Roped is my favorite. Their chemistry was great. The back and forth. Realizing they were meant to be together and having each other’s back was awesome. Each book has a story that is relatable and makes you feel that you are right there with them. I felt every emotion. This is a fanftastic set that you should read.

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War in Sorcery’s Shadow (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 3) by Elise Carlson – Review by Shelly Kittell

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War in Sorcery's Shadow (Ruarnon Trilogy #3)War in Sorcery’s Shadow by Elise Carlson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is an intriguing conclusion to this adventure of Ruarnon. It’s a story of courage, learning and strength. Along with his friends, they went on an journey that was very risky. I found the characters to be interesting and they brought the story together well. The story itself was well written. It’s a good trilogy. If you like fantasy, this is a trilogy you may enjoy.

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What Eyes Can’t See (Bold Journeys Series) by Paulette Stout – Review by Shelly Kittell

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What Eyes Can't See: A spicy contemporary fiction novel of love, social justice, and belonging (Bold Journeys)What Eyes Can’t See: A spicy contemporary fiction novel of love, social justice, and belonging by Paulette Stout
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a pretty good read. I found Barbara to be a very strong and determined woman despite the events that life was throwing at her. She was determined to get justice and not let it bring her and the others down. She had met the man of her “dreams.” It was a shame that he was a problem of the system. I did like the way it became a slow burn through the story. This had to go that way in order to fit the story. I am a fan of this series and the author because of her writing and the way she tells her stories. They are done in a way that leaves you feeling the emotion in many ways. Another well done story that I recommend.

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Murder on West Main (A South Shore Mystery) by I.M. Foster – Review by

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Murder on West Main: A South Shore MysteryMurder on West Main: A South Shore Mystery by I.M. Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh, so much fun to be back with Daniel and a mystery. This was a doozy. Right from the start it was set up with several paths to take. I found the writing quite entertaining. Being in the early 1900’s, it’s kind of funny to read the occasional cuss word in their. Somehow, I just can’t picture them saying it. Anyway, I loved the independence of Colin’s sister. Daniel has his hands trying to keep her out of trouble. Their chemistry is full of sparks for that time period. Trying to figure out the culprit is actually an enjoyable mystery. Much like the first book in the series, I quite enjoyed this story. I’m very much looking forward to the next one. This is fast becoming my favoirte historical fiction cozy series.

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Mood Swings and Hockey Flings (Hot Flash Hookups Series) by Sylvie Stewart and Marika Ray – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Mood Swings and Hockey Flings (Hot Flash Hookups Book 2)Mood Swings and Hockey Flings by Marika Ray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t think I’ve chuckled through a book this hard all year. My husband thought I had lost my mind. Killer Kaitlyn and Banks had chemistry right off the bat from the moment they met at the airport. He had no clue she was a sports agent and she had no clue he was a hockey player. I loved the verbal sparring all the way through. The multiple POV with the earlier timeline and then to the present gave a really good look at how everything came to be. I loved the writing. This is one of my favorite romance writers. They do a fantastic job of making you feel like you are write their. The characters are so easy to relate to. With antagonists like Ed in the story, you don’t need much else. That guy’s like a slimy snail leaving a trail. It was so worth watching Kait and Bennett work things out and seeing them develop their relationship. You have to read this one. Hit that one-click, you won’t be sorry.

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Will You (Pretend) Marry Me (Swan Cove Series) by Christi Barth – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Will You Pretend Marry MeWill You Pretend Marry Me by Christi Barth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of the funniest romances I’ve read this year. The chemistry between these two is off the charts, even with them trying to fight the attraction. He’s not thrilled she’s there. She just wants to finish here student teaching semester. She’s not sure she wants to continue being Kia. She kind of wants to go back to being Abigail. I loved the story. I felt like the fly on the wall observing these two. Even with the mentor-mentee relationship, those comments were priceless. Watching this relationship develop was priceless. This author does excellent writing and gives us characters to love. This is a must read.

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Unicorn, Don’t Do That! by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Unicorn, Don't Do That!: It's okay if a Unicorn poops on your doorstepUnicorn, Don’t Do That!: It’s okay if a Unicorn poops on your doorstep by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, this was quite entertaining. The pictures are colorful and can hold a child’s attention. The story brings on giggles and chats. We loved reading this. This is the current storytime favorite at our house.

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Texas Winds by Dana Wayne – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Texas WindsTexas Winds by Dana Wayne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lexie and Jake’s story is so sweet and heartwarming. Jake learns to let love back in and trust again. Poor Lexie is what some of us call a “hot mess.” Oh, the accident, I almost cried for her. Stupid feral hogs. Biscuit and Katie were such terrific supporting characters to the story. Katie basically showed both of them that love is possible. I found myself feeling this story. It was hard not too. This author writes so that you feel like you are experiencing the story with the characters. I was in it right from the start. A heartwarming story that showed the challenges and that love is worth it. You can find happiness again. This a definite must read.

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Stop that Lion (Kingdom of Mir Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace (Kingdom of Mir)Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a story that taught about being creative and listening. The young girl learned to ask the King questions first so that she could avoid giving the King her sheep. She wanted to solve his issue. No one else had been able to so they lost their most precious item. She taught the King about friendship. It turned out that he wanted to be friends with the other King. By giving him sheep as gifts, then it became important to keep the Lion out of his kingdom also. The problem was solved. I really enjoyed how the story teaches about problem solving. The pictures are colorful and help teach kids. The story teaches a wonderful lesson. I definitely recommend it.

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Amese of Animalis (The Borosa Legacy Book 1) by MJ Murray – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Amese of Animalis (Borosa Legacy, #1)Amese of Animalis by M.J. Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Geared for the younger kids, I really enjoyed this book. Amese is having a hard time deciding if she wants to step up into her predestined role to help her mom. Throughout her story, she is training. This training consists of turning into different animals chosen for her by special bees, the orchid bees. I found it is really kind of relatable because you can feel the family dynamics, the pressure she’s under. It’s very well written and I do believe the target group will enjoy it. I started reading this to my grandson, he’s 10. He was very interested in how the bees connected Amese to the animals. I hope we’ll get more from this series. I’m looking forward to sharing this with my grandson. It’s a good story.

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Drag Me Down (Full Throttle Cyborgs Series) by Landra Graf – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Drag Me Down (Full Throttle Cyborgs, #4)Drag Me Down by Landra Graf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an action- romance. I was hooked the moment I started. The chemistry is there. Torn apart by family/gang drama, will they find there way back. The writing is well-done. It’s fast-paced. Bridget has to show the gang she is leading that she is boss and knows what she is doing. She is trying hard to take doing the lousy, cheating antagonist. She gets her ex, Drag, to help her. Watching their struggles as she had to earn back the respect of those she hurt, as well as Drag, showed how much she had grown. I found it to be a story of redemption. It’s a fantastic series that I’ve enjoyed so far.

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Loris Opens Up His Heart (Courage Tales Series) by Dagmara Sitek – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Loris Opens Up His HeartLoris Opens Up His Heart by Dagmara Sitek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the most heartwarming books I’ve read. It’s probably one of the closest I’ve seen to explain to foster children about family. I think Loris is a sweet child. I loved how the author explained the feelings of all the kids and how what he was feeling was normal. I wish we could get a copy of this book to every foster child or therapist.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a good mystery. This author does a tremendous job with setting up her stories. The premise of the story was built around a former student returning as an instructor. The story had great detail. I really enjoyed how it built its way up to the end. Everything was explained at the end. The characters were well written and easy to relate to.

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Touched: Elemental Passions Book One by Skye Turner, Sloane Nicole, April D. Berry, C.J. Pinard, Danielle Jamie, Darlene Tallman, Julie Morgan, Livell James, Machelle Hanleigh, and Melissa MacKinnon – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Touched (Elemental Passions #1)Touched by Skye Turner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story. There was a really nice flow to the story. I was amazed to see that there were 10 authors. As a paranormal lover, it’s always a treat to find a romance with lots of goodies in the story. It is set in New Orleans, after all. Nobody thought it too odd that Callum was often seen talking to himself. You can feel a little of every emotion in this story. There are lots of fairies, trolls, and even things that can eat you. Such a fun paranormal tale. It’s an intriguing tale of good coming together to fight evil to save Aeris’s home of Laric. I’m looking forward to reading more of this series as it comes out.

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The Winemakers Box Set (The Winemakers Series) by Giovanna Siniscalchi – Review by Shelly Kittell

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The Winemakers - Box set: A Series of Sun-Kissed Historical RomancesThe Winemakers – Box set: A Series of Sun-Kissed Historical Romances by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s so exciting to see this in a boxed set. All three books together in one place. These books are so wonderfully written. They are historically detailed in such a way that almost makes you feel that you can see the beauty of the location during that time. You can feel the noise, etc. The characters in each story bring such depth and personality to them. Each story is unique yet tied together by the family piece. Whether as a protagonist in one story or as a supporting character in the other books, these characters will feel relatable. There were times that I felt like I was feeling their emotions. Such beautiful romances in all three books. I would click the buy button for this. Worth having.

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Finding Cheer (Magical Emerald Hollow Series) by Heather Schneider – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Finding Cheer (Magical Emerald Hollow #2)Finding Cheer by Heather Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was just as joyful to read as the first one. Sofia and Isiah brought so much fun, romance and entertainment to my meager life. Watching everyone, Ash and Holly included, try to figure out how to get Isiah’s memory back is magical. The writing is full of sunshine. You can feel the magic in the story. I couldn’t put it down once I started it. I am a definite fan of this series and I can’t wait for the next. Who will be next?

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