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The Ghostly Diva (Divine Vintage Series) by Sandra L. Young – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

The Ghostly Diva is Book Three in the Divine Vintage Series. It is cozy, romantic mystery with paranormal elements, secrets, suspense, intrigue, and family dynamics. Justine is an Assistant Director at the local museum who has been asked by Jackson to look at some clothing that belonged to his late mother who was an actress. Jackson is a screenwriter and is anxious to get his late mother’s estate settled so he can get back to Hollywood. When a snowstorm hits Justine and Jackson get trapped together in the house which is less than ideal for either of them. Jackson’s deceased mother makes an appearance and Justine, who is a bit of a medium, finds herself trying to keep the peace between her and her son who have unresolved issues between them. Justine and Jackson discover there is chemistry between them, and Jackson’s mother decided to try to play matchmaker. With all of that going on, Justine finds herself trying to solve the mystery of who Jackson’s father is as this was a secret his mom guarded closely. A great story with wonderful characters and an intriguing storyline.

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A Cold Day in Hell (Life is Hell Series Book 5) by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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A Cold Day in Hell (Life is Hell #5)A Cold Day in Hell by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Cold Day in Hell is Book Five in the Life is Hell Series. It is a frenemies to lovers, FF paranormal romance with shifters, angels, pixies, mystery, danger, drama, suspense, secrets, and witty banter. This story focus on Hadassah, an angel, and Jezebel, a shifter. Hadassah is on suspended duty and has been banished to Juniper Lake for misusing her powers. Jezebel likes to keep to herself and finds solitude in the woods running free in her dog form. The two form an unlikely friendship and soon learn to confide in one another. When Jezebel’s past catches up with her Hadassah will stop at nothing to keep her safe. Jezebel’s past is truly heartbreaking, and we learn why she seems abrasive and prefers to be alone. Hadassah’s character seems spoiled and selfish at first but there is more to her than what she shows on the surface. The two learn to rely on one another and become close as they spend more time together leading to friendship and romance. Another great book in this amazing series!

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Master Oradea (Masters of the Consulate Book 10) by Sylvia Black – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Master Oradea is Book Ten in the Masters of the Consulate series. It is a dark vampire paranormal, fated mates, enemies to lover’s romance with shifters, vampires, witches, drama, danger, suspense, intrigue, betrayal, vengeance, secrets, lies, and passion. Although each book in the series can be read as a standalone, I feel that reading prior books would provide a better understanding of the background of the recurring characters that overlap in each book.
This book tells the story of Master Oradea who is searching for someone who betrayed him as the battle ensues between the pureblood vampires and the rogue vampires. The pureblood vampires have teamed up with the witches as they try to determine if there is a betrayer amongst them. Natalia is the only sister in the Benzini crime family who comes under the protection of Master Oradea when her life is threatened by a rogue shifter. The attraction between Master Oradea and Natalia is intense and the chemistry between them is off the charts. A gripping and dark tale about the battle for power and control, war, and the many faces of evil. The characters are engaging, dark, passionate, fierce, and will stop at nothing to protect their own.

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Kris & The Cowboys (The Adventures of Kris) by Art Blegen – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Kris and the Cowboys is part of The Adventures of Kris Series. It is a children’s chapter book designed for kids between the ages of six to ten years of age. On her newest adventure young Kris is visiting her Uncle Buddy at his ranch. While visiting she learns about different breeds of horses, that horses eat oats raw, and that horses have big teeth. She also learns about ranch life and how to ride a horse. When Kris’ Uncle Buddy leaves for a cattle drive, she is determined to tag along even though her uncle does not feel she is ready yet. Determined to take part at all costs, Kris finds her own way of partaking in the cattle drive which soon takes her on a whirlwind adventure full of danger and mystery. She must find the strength and courage to overcome numerous challenges along the way such as flash floods, cattle rustlers, and even a hungry mountain lion. This was a delightful story within a story that teaches lessons in bravery, overcoming obstacles, the value of friendship, family values, and morals. I love that the MC Kris is an avid reader with a vivid imagination that finds herself fully immersed into the worlds she reads about in her books. A great series for kids of all ages.

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Come Home to Death by Marilyn Levinson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Come Home to Death is a romantic suspense novel full of action, drama, danger, murder, mystery, intrigue, secrets, lies, scandal, deceit, and treachery. The story centers around Erica Parker who has just fled for her life after coming home to a couple of thugs who are looking for her husband. Fearing for her safety, and that of her husband, she returns to the one place she swore she would never go again, her childhood home. From the moment she arrives in her old hometown Erica starts having a string of mysterious “accidents” that leaves her questioning her sanity and makes her uncertain who to trust. With her upcoming twenty fifth birthday looming on the horizon Erica stands to become a multi millionaire and suddenly everyone has an agenda and ulterior motives for wanting to spend time with her. Some stand to gain her inheritance if she meets an early demise which makes anyone, including those who love her the most, as potential suspects. A fantastic story with engaging characters, and twists and turns that kept me riveted until the end to see whodunit. I will be looking for more books by this talented author!

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

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

Healing Hearts is the prequel to The Echo Series and tells us how Gene and Amanda first met. We were first introduced to them in previous books in the series, but this book gives us the backstory of these beloved characters. It is a contemporary romance novella with drama, suspense, gossip, mystery, intrigue, passion, romance, and witty banter. Gene Rowland is an ER Doctor who is suffering from burnout. He decides to return to his small hometown in the hopes of finding a slower paced life and rekindling his passion for helping others. On his way home he witnesses an accident as a car drives off the road. Gene stops to help and that is when he meets Amanda Garner. She swerved off the road after nearly hitting a young girl that ran out in front of her. The police, paramedics and even Gene are doubtful of Amanda’s story of the young girl. Amanda, however, is insistent the young girl is out there and needs help. She refuses medical attention but is willing to allow Gene to keep an eye on her overnight just in case she has a concussion. As the two spend time together Gene finds himself drawn to Amanda’s kindness and compassion towards others and finds himself compelled to help her in any way he can, which includes finding the mystery girl from the night of the accident. Amanda remembers Gene from high school and has been carrying a crush on him since then. As the two spend more time together the chemistry and passion between them becomes intense and explosive. As Amanda and Jean get wrapped up in the mystery of the missing girl it turns into far more than they ever expected. This book hooked me from the first few pages, and I was unable to put it down until I found out the mystery surrounding this mysterious girl Amanda had seen. Amanda and Gene were lovable characters and I enjoyed watching their growth throughout the book as their romance unfolded.

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Marshmallow Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Marshmallow RabbitMarshmallow Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Marshmallow Rabbit is a cute and entertaining story about a mischievous little girl named Annabelle who loves candy. Whenever Mr. Bonbon has a tour of his candy factory Annabelle is there. She looks innocent because she wears little dresses and frilly little socks and looks sweet and innocent. However, on every tour she takes candy from the factory. Annabelle started out taking just a little treat but as she became bolder, she started taking bigger candy. Mr. Bonbon knows that Annabelle is stealing candy and is determined to stop her from stealing anymore candy from his factory. Annabelle seems to be able to outsmart him each time so he decides to teach her a lesson and creates a giant sticky marshmallow rabbit that he knows she will not be able to resist. Will she fall for the bait? Will she learn a lesson at all, or will she outsmart Mr. Bonbon again? This was a cute story, but I feel as though the book might have ended a little bit too soon and that the lesson in this book might be overlooked by the age group that it was intended for. Annabelle ends up getting away with stealing and does not seem to learn that her behavior is wrong. Overall, this was a good book with beautiful bright illustrations and a cute and engaging story line.

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Sure as Hell (Life is Hell Series Book 4) by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Sure As Hell (Life is Hell #4)Sure As Hell by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sure As Hell is the fourth book in the Life Is Hell Series. It is a polyamorous, MM, friends to lovers, slow burn romance with drama, danger, mystery, suspense, action, magic, paranormal elements, and a touch of humor. If you have not yet read the previous books in this series, I highly recommend that you do. Not only will it give you the backstory of the characters, but the series is amazing. This story focuses on the characters of Jaru, who is an imp demon, and Larkspur, who is a pixie, that we were introduced to in previous books. Jaru is just starting to get ready to open a contract companion business. Larkspur misses his best friend and offers to help him around the office so that he can spend more time with Jaru. As the two spend more time together the attraction between them grows. Of course, they must overcome some obstacles as danger looms for the two of them. Can they overcome such seemingly insurmountable obstacles and truly be together? I absolutely adore this series and the characters I have met along the way. The storyline is interesting, unique, and original with quirky characters that I instantly adored. I highly recommend this entire series!

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War in Sorcery’s Shadow (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 3) by Elise Carlson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

War in Sorcery’s Shadow is the Third and Final Book in the Ruarnon Trilogy. It is an all-inclusive YA fantasy with LGBTQ and non-binary characters. The story is full of sorcery, magic, adventure, action, drama, secrets, lies, guardians, myths and prophecies. I recommend reading the first two books in this series as they lead up to this book which picks up where the second one left off. The stakes are high in the conclusion to this epic series and the characters are faced with some major challenges that will challenge them in ways like never before. Ruarnon and their friends are in a race against time as they try to get to those that have been lied to while trying to battle the evil intent on destroying them. It is up to Ruarnon and Linh to get to these people and save them before they destroy one another. Tensions are high and the chaos threatens to destroy everything in its path. This was a great series with well written characters and vividly written scenes that fully immerse you into the story alongside the characters. I highly recommend this fantasy series that will appeal to readers of all ages.

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What Eyes Can’t See (Bold Journeys Series) by Paulette Stout – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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What Eyes Can't See: Spicy contemporary fictionWhat Eyes Can’t See: Spicy contemporary fiction by Paulette Stout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What Eyes Can’t See is the Third Book in the Bold Journeys Series. It is a contemporary romance with drama, slow burn romance, angst, racism, discrimination, interracial romance, and self-discovery. Th story centers around the main character of an attorney named Barbara whose life has just blown up when she discovers her fiancé has been cheating on her. When she meets Sebastian, who is also an attorney, the two feel an instant connection. Barbara and Sebastian are complete opposites and that becomes abundantly clear when he gets the promotion that she was expecting to receive even though he is a newcomer to the firm that she is employed with. When she is fired from the firm for no reason Barbara must fight for justice and equality in a world full of white privilege and discrimination. Barbara and Sebastian must also fight to be together in a world that seems determined to keep them apart.

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Breaking Apart (Finnerty and Liccione Mystery Series) by Wanda Venters, MD and Mary Rae, MD – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Breaking Apart (A Finnerty and Liccione Mystery, #2)Breaking Apart by Wanda J. Venters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Breaking Apart is the Second Book in the Finnerty and Liccione Mystery Book Series. It is a fast-paced medical crime thriller full of action, suspense, murder, mystery, intrigue, secrets, and drama. The story centers around the characters of Marnie and Louise who are doctors at the Colorado VA Behavioral Health Clinic. Marnie has just begun running a trial at the clinic to help veterans suffering from PTSD. On her first day she discovers a young veteran by the name of Josh who appears to have committed suicide. As she delves deeper into his death, she learns that there may be something more sinister behind it and that it may not have been suicide at all. The story is told from multiple points of view so that you can get a better understanding of the other characters, and their perspectives and situations as well. As Marnie and Louise work to uncover what happened to Josh, they discover that there is an undercover network of prescription scams which puts the lives of the doctors in danger. I love the medical aspect of this book and how the authors tell the real and raw story about PTSD the veterans suffer as they try to reintegrate into society after serving. The characters are complex, real, raw, and it is easy to become invested in their lives and their stories. The authors have done an amazing job of writing about such a sensitive topic and the struggles and trauma that veterans go through.

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Amese of Animalis (The Borosa Legacy Book 1) by MJ Murray – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Amese of Animalis: The Borosa LegacyAmese of Animalis: The Borosa Legacy by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amese of Animalis is Book One in the Borosa Legacy Series. It is a children’s fantasy book designed for children between the ages of ten to fourteen years of age. The story centers around the main character of a 13-year-old girl named Amese who is learning the skills to be a Guardian. This is a huge responsibility that she does not feel that she is ready for. Amese must muster up all the courage that she can to overcome her doubts and fears to gain the confidence that she needs. Not only does she have to prove to herself, but she must prove to others that she has the skills and the abilities that are needed. This was a fun read that was full of adventure, magic, action mystery, and a smidge of danger. I loved how Amese was able to change into different animals as well as how with each animal that she transforms into she learns a lesson along the way. This was a great coming of age story with lessons about courage, strength and self-discovery. This book had great characters, a unique storyline, and fantastic world building with vivid scene descriptions.

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

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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: 5 of 5 stars

Murder on West Main is Book Two in the South Shore Mystery Series. It is a historical cozy mystery set in a small town in the early 1900’s. This book will grab you from the first few pages as the main character, Colin, is implicated in the murder of his boss. All clues, including an earlier altercation with his boss and his fingerprints on the body seem to point to him as the prime suspect. However, Colin’s sister Kathleen, and the local coroner’s assistant, Daniel, have their doubts as to his guilt so his sister Kathleen decides to conduct her own investigation. As she delves into the clues things quickly take a dark and dangerous turn. It is soon discovered that Colin’s boss was not a popular man, and the list of suspects grow. This book had strong characters, a great storyline, an amazing book cover and was packed full of crime, drama, action, suspense, mystery, murder, and old-fashioned sleuthing.

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Finding Cheer (Magical Emerald Hollow Series) by Heather Schneider – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Finding Cheer is Book Two in the Magical Emerald Hollow series. It is set in a small town called Emerald Hollow and has an overall whimsical and magical feel. It is full of romance, likable characters, charm, intrigue, secrets, and mystery. After reading the first book in the series, I was anxious to read this one and I was not disappointed. The story centers around the character of Sophia, who lives in Emerald Hollow. She is friends to both Holly and Ash who we were introduced to in the first book. When Sophia meets Isaiah, she is naturally skeptical of this mysterious man that has shown up unexpectedly because she knows nothing about him. As she tries to get to the bottom of the mystery of who he is Sophia discovers she is attracted to him. As the story evolves, the characters experience loss and heartbreak, but also begin to grow, rediscover themselves, and heal. A great read with a feel-good, magical vibe and wholesome romance.

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Unicorn, Don’t Do That! by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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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: 4 of 5 stars

Unicorn Don’t Do That is a children’s book told in rhymes about a half unicorn named Stega that gets invited to her friend Benny’s housewarming party. She is worried that she does not have a gift for him, so she fills a bowl full of berries. Stega gets hungry on the way to the party and eats the berries. Now she is feeling bad, but matters get worse when she gets close to Benny’s house and gets a tummy ache. A whimsical story full of bright, colorful illustrations that will certainly make both adults and children alike giggle out loud. The overall moral of the story is about friendship and acceptance.

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

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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: 5 of 5 stars

Rhapsody in Black is an Elena del Carral Mystery full of mystery, suspense, action, danger, intrigue, tension, and secrets. It is set against the backdrop of the ballet world where the reader is quickly immersed in the cutthroat world of ballet dancing complete with accidents, threats, sabotage, and hidden agendas. The story centers around Elena, who is a ballerina and choreographer as she is invited to perform for Black Rhapsody, which will enhance her career. Elena quickly realizes why she left the ballet world behind because nothing seems to have changed and it has only become more sinister and deadly. The story is full of twists and turns, interesting characters, and a unique storyline that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the final scene.

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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 Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Touched is Book One in the Elemental Passions Series. It is unique in that it is written by ten different authors who came together to write one story as one author. The book is full of action, magic, danger, drama, adventure, paranormal elements, mystery, passion, forbidden love, destiny, and romance. The story centers around Aeris, who is a fairy, and Callum, who is a detective. The two are attracted to one another, but Fae and human relationships are strictly forbidden. Aeris and Callum are from very different worlds and never should have met, but it is destiny that has brought them together. Although the two seem fated to be together, can they overcome the conflict and impending danger? Can the two overcome all obstacles and be together?

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Drag Me Down (Full Throttle Cyborgs Series) by Landra Graf – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Drag Me Down is Book Four in the Full Throttle Cyborgs series. It is a cyborg sci-fi romance
with danger, drama, passion, chemistry, action, suspense, and cyborgs. Dakota, or Drag as he is known, is out for revenge after being betrayed and having his heart broken. Bridget is used to getting what she wants and will stop nothing to come out on top. She has been ruthlessly setting her sight on trying to take over Drags racers, his gang and his town but Drag has stopped her
at every turn. Now, Bridget is determined to get out from underneath the thumb of her gang sponsor and Drag and Bridget finds that they must join forces. Bridget thinks that she can fool him again, but Drag will not be fooled by her again. What neither expected was for the underlying chemistry and the sexual tension between them being off the charts. This book is fast paced with twists and turns that kept me reading until the end. The characters were amazing and unique, with a bit of an enemies to lover’s twist to keep you on your toes. The chemistry between Bridget and Drag is undeniable, but can they ever trust one another to have a relationship?

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Hell in a Handbasket (Life is Hell Series Book 3) by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Hell in a Handbasket (Life is Hell #3)Hell in a Handbasket by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hell in a Handbasket is Book Three in the Life is Hell series. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the other books in this series because they are amazing. This book focuses on Teivel, a demon, and Oren, a demon hunter who are natural enemies.
Teivel has returned to Juniper Lake, a place that he keeps getting drawn to for some unexplainable reason. When a hybrid baby is dropped off on Oren’s doorstep, the two must work together to protect him. Teivel was mentioned in previous books briefly, but this book goes more in depth about his character. We learn that there is more to him than originally meets the eye. Most would think that he is a world class jerk, but it turns out that there is more to him than that. There is a strong attraction between Teivel and Oren even though there is no reason how a demon and a demon hunter could possibly be in any sort of a relationship or fall in love for that matter. This was another wonderful book written by an extremely talented author. Her writing style is not only unique and creative but her characters are quirky and fun.

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Oscar and Emmy Foster Kittens (Oscar and Emmy Series) by Terri Sabol – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Oscar and Emmy Foster KittensOscar and Emmy Foster Kittens by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oscar and Emmy Foster Kittens Is part of the Oscar and Emmy series. It is designed for children between the ages of 5 and 10 years of age. Twins Charlie and Abby have discussed with their mom the opportunity of fostering animals while they volunteer at an animal shelter. When they get the chance to foster three kittens, they learn both the joys and responsibilities of fostering animals. The children learn about responsibility, compassion, and nurturing not just a kitten, but this could be applied to all pets. As with all the books in this series, the author does an amazing job of teaching children about the responsibilities of pet ownership. The bright colorful illustrations really help to bring the story to life.

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Queen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Queen of the FairiesQueen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Queen of the Fairies is a children’s book designed for children between the ages of 4 and 8 years of age. It is about a little girl who wants to write a book about the Queen of the Fairies. She realizes that she cannot just write about good fairies because if she writes just about the good fairies, then the bad fairies might play tricks on her. The bad fairies might even decide to take the book that she is writing about the fairies and then the Queen of the Fairies will never get to see it see it. This is a cute story with a surprise ending that was fun to read. The bright colorful illustrations really bring the story to life. Another wonderful book by this talented author.

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Fay’s Kindness Parade (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Fay's Kindness Parade (The Adventures of Cray)Fay’s Kindness Parade by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fay’s Kindness Parade is Book Five in The Adventures of Cray series. In the latest adventure Turtle Fay is preparing to leave behind the chilly weather and head for somewhere warmer. She asks Cray to join her so they can spread kindness along the way. Before leaving they help a hermit crab find a bigger shell. As they cross the ocean, the group helps a lobster free himself from a rock, free a whale that was tangled in a net, and help a dolphin find his family. Throughout their journey others join them in their kindness parade and help spread love, joy, kindness, and happiness. The book is written in fun rhymes and includes beautiful illustrations that make learning about friendship, compassion, gratitude, and helping others. I am a huge fan of this series and look forward to reading more by this author.

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Hell Hath No Fury (Life is Hell Series) by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Hell Hath No Fury (Life is Hell #2)Hell Hath No Fury by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hell Hath No Fury is Book Two in the Life is Hell Series. It is a paranormal F/F romance with drama, mystery, intrigue, demons, witches, shifters, fallen angels, magic, chemistry and a dash of humor. The story picks up with characters that we met in book one, Sheridan and Millicent, in the small town of Juniper Lake. Sheridan is a demon and Millicent is the deputy sheriff of Juniper Lake. Both are attracted to one another, but neither is brave enough to act on their crush so any chance of romance between them is slow burning. When Millicent gets a stalker who leaves her anonymous cryptic notes, and a creepy doll Sheridan is spurred into action and becomes determined to help her and keep her safe. Another brilliantly written story by this talented author who has a way of weaving an interesting and unique story that keeps the reader hooked. Looking forward to reading the next book in this fantastic series.

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Scotland: Stunning, Strange, and Secret: A Guide to Hidden Scotland by Christy Nicholas Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Scotland: Stunning, Strange, and Secret: A Guide to Hidden ScotlandScotland: Stunning, Strange, and Secret: A Guide to Hidden Scotland by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Scotland: Stunning, Strange, and Secret: A Guide to Hidden Scotland is Book Two in The Hidden Gems Series. It is your definitive guide to all that Scotland has to offer written by a well traveled author. The author has expertly used her love of travel to discuss in-depth the hidden gems that Scotland offers for exploration that go beyond the usual tourist destinations. She describes both popular and little-known places as well as their history. I know at the top of my list of places to not miss out on would be the numerous haunted castles. The author discusses the history of Scotland, its myths, gods, beliefs, and superstitions which offer invaluable insight into its rich and varied culture. One of the myths that intrigued me was Bean-Nighe, AKA the “washer woman” in Scottish Gaelic who is seen as the omen of death. It is said that she can be seen near streams and pools washing the clothes of those that are doomed to death, turning the river red with their blood. Another one that I found interesting was about Brahan Seer, whose name was Coinneach Odhar, who was thought to be a prophet or seer with second sight. It was said that his visions were thought to come true. The author briefly discusses the origins of music beyond the well-known bagpipes that also started in Scotland. Artists and bands that originated from Scotland such as Annie Lennox, The Bay City Rollers, Sheena Easton, Simple Minds, and many members of the band AC/DC were born in Scotland. The author discusses how to plan your trip, the best time to go, travel expenses, extra costs that may be associated with the trip, travel insurance, passports and visas, travelers’ checks, places to visit, accommodations, transportation, and food. The book contains stunning photographs throughout that were taken by the author during her various trips to Scotland and she gives advice on how to get the best photos during your visit. She gives advice on camera and equipment, as well as things to consider such as scale, weather, perspective, lines, the rule of thirds, and lighting. I could go on and on about all the information this book contains because it truly covers ever aspect one could possibly think of from start to finish and is the only guide one would need when planning a trip to Scotland. I will be going back and reading the author’s book on England next because many of my ancestors originate from there.

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England: Cultured, Classic, and Charming: A Guide to Hidden England (The Hidden Gems Series) by Christy Nicholas – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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England: Cultured, Classic, and Charming: A Guide to Hidden England (The Hidden Gems Series)England: Cultured, Classic, and Charming: A Guide to Hidden England by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

England: Cultured, Classic, and Charming: A Guide to Hidden England is Book Three in the Hidden Gems Series. It is your definitive guide to all that England has to offer written by a well traveled author with twenty-five years of experience traveling to England. The author has expertly used her love of travel to discuss in-depth the hidden gems that England offers for exploration that go beyond the usual tourist locales. She discusses the history of England, its myths, legends, beliefs, and superstitions which offer invaluable insight into its rich and varied culture. I was fascinated by the belief of the existence in fairies in Elva Hills situated on the bank of Bassenthwaite Lake and how the hill is supposed to hide a gateway to the Otherworld, which only opens at certain times of the year. This would be at the top of my places to explore, along with the numerous haunted locations. The author briefly discusses famous authors who were born in England such as Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, and J.K. Rowling. Famous artists and bands such as Ed Sheeran, Cat Stevens, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Elton John, Queen, The Eurythmics, and The Who also originated from England. The author discusses how to plan your trip, the best time to go, travel expenses, extra costs that may be associated with the trip, travel insurance, passports and visas, travelers’ checks, places to visit, accommodations, transportation, and food. The book contains stunning photographs throughout that were taken by the author during her various trips to England and she gives advice on how to get the best photos during your visit. She gives advice on camera and equipment, as well as things to consider such as scale, weather, perspective, lines, the rule of thirds, and lighting. I could go on and on about all the information this book contains because it truly covers ever aspect one could possibly think of from start to finish and is the only guide one would need when planning a trip to England. I will be going back and reading the author’s book on Ireland next as it is my dream destination.

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Kris & The Pirates (The Adventures of Kris) by Art Blegen – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Kris & The Pirates: The Adventures of KrisKris & The Pirates: The Adventures of Kris by Art Blegen

Kris and the Pirates is book two in The Adventures of Kris series. It is a children’s chapter book geared towards children between the ages of ten to fourteen years of age. The book follows the adventures of a young girl named Kris as she becomes immersed into the stories she reads and shares the adventures alongside the characters in the book. Kris is not eager to attend a costume party with her family because she feels that dressing up in costumes is only acceptable at Halloween, not in March. To take her mind off the party she is reluctant to attend she decides to escape into the world of her book. The story takes her on an exciting adventure where she gets to sail the seas, go swimming, meet pirates, go on an island, and make friends with talking animals. Kris learns about friendship, overcoming fear, sailing, being brave, and how to overcome challenges. A fun and entertaining read.

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Code Dog by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Code DogCode Dog by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Code Dog is a children’s chapter book geared towards children between the ages of eight to twelve years of age. It follows the adventures of Timmy, Beth and Arthur as they follow the trail of clues in the hopes of finding a missing 200-year-old time capsule. The three friends get a bit of help from their old teacher, Mrs. Vance who gives them an old map, and her dog, Cody, who has special skills. Cody can tell your fortune, track, and can even speak in morse code through her tail. Timmy, Arthur, and Beth must follow the clues on the map which is a bit tricky because there is no X to mark the spot of where the capsule is located. They only have a limited amount of time to find the capsule if they want to win $1,000. This was an entertaining read with great characters, friendship, a super smart dog, fun, adventure, mystery, clues, codes, and investigation.

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Porter and Midge: Paws and Responsibilities: A Kid’s Guide to Welcoming a New Dog (Porter and Midge Children’s Book Series) by Jennie Chen and Giselle Nevada – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Porter and Midge: Paws and Responsibilities: A Kid’s Guide to Welcoming a New Dog follows the young characters of CJ and Lora as they thoroughly research the proper way to care for a new puppy. The story is told through fun rhymes which makes learning about the responsibilities of puppy ownership and care easy and entertaining for children. CJ and Lora learn about socialization, vet visits, dental care, grooming, and training their new puppy. They also learn the importance of picking the right breed that will suit their family. The illustrations are bright, colorful, engaging and really bring the story to life. A great read for any child who is eager to learn about the responsibilities of puppy ownership and care.

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The Changed Man (The Olympic Peninsula Series, Book 4) by Cat Treadgold – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

The Changed Man is Book Four in the Olympic Peninsula series. It is a contemporary romance with family dynamics, drama, secrets, intrigue, mystery, suspense, angst, and conflict. The characters are interconnected from the previous books in this series, so it is best to read the previous books prior to this one. This story focus on the MC Jake O’Connell who has returned to Port Townsend for his brother David’s wedding. Jake has been estranged from the family and returned without letting anyone know that he was coming so his return causes quite a stir within his family. He has held a bit of a grudge against his brothers because they left him to run the family business while they ran off to pursue their dreams. Jake has left his life as the CEO of the family business in North Bend and has turned to a life of writing. The story focuses on how Jake has transformed his life, and the complex relationship Jake has with his family, especially his twin brother, the famous country singer Joe Bob Blade. When Jake meets Chiara, his brother’s son’s guardian, he feels an instant connection, but she is married. He wants her despite the obstacles that are standing in his way. This book builds on prior ones in the series and delves a bit deeper into the complicated lives and relationships of the O’Connell family. The characters were relatable, engaging, multi faceted, complex, and experienced tremendous growth throughout the story. The storyline was well written with intricate details that fully immerse you into the lives of this complex family.

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The Glow in Loretta’s Garden (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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The Glow in Loretta's Garden (Loretta's Insects)The Glow in Loretta’s Garden by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Glow in Loretta’s Garden is Book Five in the Loretta’s Insects series. It is a children’s picture book that teaches children about the life cycle of fireflies. Loretta loves insects and while digging in her flower bed she finds glowing larvae. She places them in an empty ant farm and watches them as they dig little mud houses underground. After several days of observing the activity of the larvae Loretta notices that there are fireflies coming out so she takes the ant farm outside so they can fly free. She then spends time watching the fireflies and makes some interesting observations about how they flash. A cute and informative read that is a good resource for kids to learn about the life cycle of a firefly. The illustrations were okay, but I personally found the illustrations in previous books in this series more captivating and engaging. Overall, a great read.

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