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The Guardian of Whispers (The Reeds of West Hills Book 1) by B. E. Padgett – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

The Guardian of Whispers is Book One in The Reeds of West Hills Series. This author was new to me, and I picked up a copy of the book, not realizing that it is a kid’s fantasy book aimed at children between the ages of nine to twelve years of age. It was actually the cover and title that intrigued me and compelled me to obtain a copy and I am so glad that I did. Now that I have read and enjoyed it, I feel that it can be enjoyed by both young and old alike.

The story focuses on twin boys who discover around the age of ten-years-old that have powers that as special as they are, also come with side effects. Jonathan has the power of prophecy which gives him horrendous nightmares. Franklin has the power of telepathy which causes him to hear constant whispering in his head. The children must learn to hone and control their special powers which requires them being sent away to a special school that is located thousands of miles from home. At West Hills School for the Perceptually Gifted they try to adjust to being away from their family while making new friends and honing their powers. When a powerful artifact is stolen from the school the fingers are pointed at Jon and it is up to the twins and their new friends to prove their innocence.

I loved this book and was captivated from the first few pages. The author’s writing style is engaging, and this book is fun, imaginative, and entertaining. The storyline was compelling, the characters were unique, quirky, and lovable, and the setting was vividly written which immerses you into the story. The special powers that the characters had were fascinating and I found myself wishing that I had some of those abilities. This book had action, mystery, drama, suspense, and of course magical powers. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

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Beast (Popov Boys Book 5) by Leslie Georgeson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Beast (Popov Boys #5)Beast by Leslie Georgeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beast is Book Five in the Popov Boys Series. Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. This was a beautifully written story about two scarred souls who form a friendship that builds into a romance. Adrik has earned the name Beast because his face is badly scarred from having been attacked by a dog when he was a child. He feels that he has no hopes of ever finding love because of how he looks. Annika is a mafia princess who Adrik has been assigned to protect after she was attacked so viciously in the past that she was temporarily in a wheelchair. When her attacker resurfaces and threatens to finish the job Annika is put under the watch of Adrik and one other bodyguard and kept in a safe location. Adrik and Annika begin to grow close as they spend time together sharing painful secrets and confiding in one another about feeling like outcasts. When Annika’s attacker seeks to follow through with his threats, Adrik vows to protect Annika at all costs.

The storyline of two scarred individuals forging a friendship that turns into more over time is what grabbed my attention. The characters were wonderfully written and lovable. Beast/Adrik’s past is painful as he comes from an abusive home. He vowed to become something and has worked hard over the years to work his way up in the Popov Crime Family as their interrogator and thug. Having been viciously attacked by a dog as a child has scarred him on the inside as well as on the outside and he feels as though he is a monster that is unworthy of love. He has always admired Annika from afar, but she has been off limits to him because it is his boss’ daughter. What he does not realize is that Annika has always been curious about him, and she also does not feel like she belongs. Annika is not a spoiled princess but is kind, compassionate, empathetic, and loving. As they spend time together Adrik realizes that this beautiful woman can see past his scars. This book was wonderful with action, suspense, mystery, drama, friendship, forbidden romance, passion, and a few twists and turns to keep you reading.

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Thief (Popov Boys Book 4) by Leslie Georgeson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Thief is Book Four in the Popov Boys Series. This author was new to me, and I have yet to read the first three books in the series, but I know that I will be going back to read them. With that being said, although this is part of a series it can be read as a standalone. This book will suck you in from the first few pages and have you hooked on the characters of Dominik and Leah and the undeniable chemistry between them.

Dominik works for the Russian Mafia and is known by his name Thief. When Dom tries to steal Leah’s car, things do not go as he had planned. He certainly did not expect the car’s owner to jump in the front seat or confront him. When Dom discovers that the car’s owner is a famous country star, he decides to let her go but she must not tell anyone about what happened. Dom knows that she will not say anything because he knows of the dark secrets, she carries that will ruin her career if revealed. He puts it behind him, or thinks that he has, until he runs into her again while visiting his brother. As the two spend time together the attraction between them grows and the chemistry becomes intense. When Leah’s secrets and dark past come back to haunt her and put her life and future at risk Dom vows to protect her at all costs.

This book was fast paced, had a fantastic storyline, and great characters. The way in which Dom and Leah meet is unusual to say the least. When Dom and Leah meet, it seems as though they could not be more opposite in how they live their lives and who they are. Dom is used to keeping a low profile, is a bit rough around the edges, and refuses to become attached to anyone. Underneath that tough exterior is a man with a big heart who finally meets his match and lets his guard down. Leah is a celebrity who is used to being in the spotlight and having all the attention on her. Under the glitz and glamor is a woman who has been harboring secrets from a dark past and who has been living under a false identity. When the two meet the chemistry between them sizzles and the attraction between them grows. This book was full of action, suspense, mystery, intrigue, secrets, lies, chemistry, passion, and twists and turns that will have you reading until the end.

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Punk (Popov Boys Book 6) by Leslie Georgeson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Punk is book Six in the Popov Boys series. Although this book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone. The series keeps getting better with each book though, so I highly recommend reading the first five books. Each book gives a bit of background information on the different recurring characters, and then focuses on one character for that book. This storyline is centered around the attraction between a younger man and an older woman.

Efram is a bit of a wild guy with a few inner demons and baggage that he has been carrying around since his aunt’s death. Trying to flee from his past he goes out at night as Punk and pursues criminals to bring to justice. His nighttime activities as Punk put his life at risk so he attempts to give it up. He applies for a job as a bookkeeper at Miranda’s record company and Efram and Miranda feel an instant attraction to one another. What Efram does not know is that Miranda thinks that Punk is responsible for killing her brother and she has vowed revenge against him. She is also in the middle of a messy divorce from her rockstar husband after she caught him repeatedly cheating on her. Miranda does not want a relationship while in the middle of a divorce, especially one with a younger man. However, Efram feels a connection to Miranda and is determined to be with her. Will this attraction lead to more? Or will it sizzle out before it ever gets a chance to start?

Another phenomenal story by this talented author. I will admit that this one intrigued me because of the younger man and older woman storyline. (My husband is fifteen years my junior and we have an amazing relationship, so this naturally captivated my attention.) So often it is older men with younger women, so this was a refreshing change. The added elements of danger, secrets, lies, hidden identities, and crazy exes really made this a riveting read. The characters of Efram and Miranda are written beautifully and the attraction between them practically explodes off the pages. Efram comes across as a bit of a wild card as he pursues criminals to bring to justice but underneath that rough exterior, he is trying to work through a past that haunts him. Wanting to leave that behind him leads him to Miranda. She too, is working through inner demons and carrying around baggage. Miranda is a smart, determined, hardworking businesswoman with a good head on her shoulders. She tries to deny her attraction to Efram but the chemistry between them was explosive and undeniable. This book was full of action, suspense, drama, secrets, intrigue, mystery, suspense, chemistry, passion, romance, and twists and turns that will keep you reading until the end.

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Fee, Fi, Fo, Grow! (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Fee, Fi, Fo, Grow! The Real Magic of the Beans is a twist on the classic Jack and the Beanstalk story. Jacqueline’s family is hungry, so her mom asks her to take the family cow Bessie to the market and sell for money for food. Along the way, Jacqueline meets an old man who offers to trade her some magic beans for the cow. He tells her the beans will grow way up in the sky and that if they are not magic then she can have the cow back. Jacqueline agrees and takes the beans home and tells her mom what the old man said. Her mom is very upset that Jacqueline made such a silly decision, so Jacqueline throws the beans out the window. When she wakes up in the morning, she is very surprised by what she sees out her window. Could the beans really be magic beans after all?

This was an entertaining and action-packed twist on the classic tale, with a pinch of drama and suspense added in. The illustrations were bright, bold, matched the story well, and really made the story come to life. The characters were fun, unique, and even a bit quirky. Jacqueline was smart and worked hard around the farm to help her mom but there was not enough food to feed them. Although she might have made a mistake in choosing to take the magic beans, she ended up making the most of the situation and found a way to feed her family. I loved the kindly old giant’s wife and how she looked out for Jacqueline caring for her and protecting her from the giant. A good story for a parent to read with their child and discuss things such as decision making, problem solving, growing food, talking to strangers, and consequences.

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Ways to Improve Bailey by Cori Cooper – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Ways to Improve BaileyWays to Improve Bailey by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ways to Improve Bailey is a slow burn, wholesome, and clean romance story with some elements of humor and witty banter. It is clever, original, and has an intriguing storyline that will have you reading until the end. There are many moments when you might find yourself giggling out loud as well. The characters are quirky, brilliantly written, and lovable.
Bailey is a typical teenager who is tired of hearing how her brother thinks that she needs to improve herself. Being as sassy and smart as she is, she feels that she has no imperfections that need to be worked on. Her brother, on the other hand, has a list of the improvements that he feels that she needs. Then her brother has the nerve to set her up with the weird guy Tanner from the yogurt shop and that might be the final straw. But, as luck, or fate, would have it, the more time she spends with Tanner, the more that Bailey starts to like him. Now, she must decide if her brother has actually been right, and she does need some improvements after all.

I loved this unique and wholesome Rom Com and found the story interesting. I loved the family element and how the siblings interacted with one another. I adored Bailey’s feisty attitude and how she was okay with who she was and did not feel she needed to change. It was amusing that her brother had an entire list of what he felt her imperfections were. A cute and entertaining read.

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The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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The Boys of Alpha BlockThe Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Boys of Alpha Block is a heart-wrenching tale about a group of teenage boys who plan to try to escape Alpha Correctional Center, a juvenile detention center. The boys have been subjected to humiliation, degradation, and abuse at the hands of the correctional officers working within the correctional center. They feel that life on the outside would be better and as a group try to devise a plan to escape.

This was a beautifully written and fast paced story, but I will admit that it was hard for me to read at times because of the horrid abuse and neglect that was taking place within the correctional center. The author did a fantastic job of inciting raw emotions through detailed writing and vivid scene descriptions. The characters are ones that you can love, hate, or feel indifferent about. The boys needed a second chance, which could have been possible with the right guidance. Instead, those that could have helped them either mistreated or abused them or turned a blind eye. The correctional officers were deplorable, and it is hard to imagine that someone in a position of authority could treat another person so inhumanely. Those such as the teachers and counsellors that were there to guide and help were ultimately just as guilty for allowing the abuse and mistreatment of the boys to continue. A riveting read that was a rollercoaster ride of emotions for me.

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Cecily in the City (The Cecily Taylor Series Book 3) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Cecily in the City is Book Three in The Cecily Taylor Series. It is a beautifully written YA Romance story centering around Cecily Taylor who has been relentlessly pursuing her dream of becoming an actress. Cecily has finally landed a role in a daytime soap opera, is living in the city, and has a pop star boyfriend so life should be perfect. The only problem is that her life in the limelight comes with a price and a whole lot of drama. Will Cecily be able to cope with her new life being so out in the open for others to judge and gossip about?

This was a great read that gives you a bit of an eye-opener about what life can be like for someone who is in the spotlight. Life behind the scenes may not be all sunshine and lollipops, which Cecily quickly learned. The story flowed nicely, the storyline was intriguing, and the characters are lovable and relatable. Cecily is smart, determined, genuine and down-to-earth so she is easy to root for. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

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Trapping the Butterfly (Butterflies Fly Free Series Book 1) by Debra Parmley – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Trapping the ButterflyTrapping the Butterfly by Debra Parmley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Trapping the Butterfly is Book one in the Butterflies Free Series. It is set in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the year 1926, during what was known as the Roaring Twenties. Bethany is on the cusp of turning eighteen and looking forward to setting her plan in motion. Once she turns eighteen, she should be receiving her inheritance and looks forward to getting away from her overbearing aunt and uncle who monitor her every move. Bethany wants to be free to cut her hair short, learn the Charleston and wants to start dating. She is strictly forbidden from doing any of these while living with her aunt and uncle because they consider these behaviors to be unladylike and unacceptable. Ladies do not smoke, they do not drink, and they certainly do not cut their hair short. According to Bethany’s aunt, no good man will want to marry a woman who displays any of these horrendous and appalling behaviors. Every move Bethany makes is dictated by her severely strict aunt, right down to how much she is allowed to eat so that she does not become a “fatty”, as her aunt likes to remind her of often.

When Bethany gets a chance to go with her aunt and uncle to Hot Springs so that her aunt can see a doctor, she feels that it is the perfect opportunity to start freeing herself from them. While in Hot Springs, Bethany meets Detective Paul Tollick by accident and learns that the famous mobster Al Capone is staying at the same hotel as her and her aunt and uncle. Al Capone and his gang are on the fourth floor of the Arlington, and Paul tells her to stay away from him because he is bad news. Although Paul is several years her senior he is drawn to her innocent beauty and finds himself wanting to see her again. Bethany also finds herself attracted to Paul and looks forward to when she can speak with him again. When Paul learns that one of Al Capone’s gangsters has taken a liking to Bethany, he vows to protect her at all costs.

First of all, can we discuss that absolutely exquisite, eye-catching, cover and book title. Oh, my goodness, they were what compelled me to read the synopsis and ultimately read the book and I am so happy that I did. This was a beautifully written and engaging story with a refreshing storyline that hooked me from the first page. It was so different from the books that I have read, and it really captivated my attention. The attention to detail and historical background were superbly done. The characters were ones that you either loved immediately or hated, as in the case of Bethany’s aunt. Bethany was sweet, kind, gentle, and innocent. I felt myself rooting for Bethany to get out from under her aunt’s thumb and free herself from the abusive behaviors of her aunt and uncle. To some extent it could be understood why Bethany’s aunt and uncle were against women smoking, drinking, and displaying what they felt like was appalling behavior in a woman. It was a far different time and taking place when women were just learning to free themselves of the constraints and restrictions imposed by society. Bethany’s aunt was raised during a different time but that did not give her the right to abuse Bethany and not allow her to eat. My heart went out to Bethany, and I rooted for her to be free like a butterfly. I highly recommend this book and am anxious to read not only the rest of this series but more by this author.

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Helpful Hudson by Dannielle Pickford – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Helpful HudsonHelpful Hudson by Dannielle Pickford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Helpful Hudson is a picture book aimed at children between the ages of three to seven years of age. The story is about a little boy named Hudson who is always there when others need him. He earned the nickname Helpful Hudson because he can always be counted on to help with chores around the house or yard. When Helpful Hudson wakes up one day, he feels tired and overwhelmed and it concerns his loved ones. Hudson has been so busy helping others that he forgot to take care of himself. As his family helps him, he learns an important lesson about self-care and taking time for himself.

Helpful Hudson was a beautifully written and engaging book that contains valuable life lessons for children about the importance of self-care. The illustrations were bright, fun, and really made the story come to life. Hudson has spent so much time helping everyone else that he became tired and did not feel like helping anymore. When his family realized that Hudson was feeling overwhelmed, they took turns caring for him so that he would feel better. Through this not only did Hudson learn that he needed to take time for himself, but he learned that it was okay for others to be there for him as well. This was a great book that I feel teaches a valuable lesson for not just kids but acts as a gentle reminder to adults as well. Sometimes as adults we need to practice self-care so that we do not burn ourselves out.

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Twisted Bond by Danielle Jacks – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Twisted BondTwisted Bond by Danielle Jacks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Twisted Bond is a paranormal romance story about a wolf named Rose and the prince of the Dutchmen coven, Titan. They are enemies who find themselves brought together because Titan is looking for a wife and Rose is looking to break the curse on her coven. Tristan needs a wife so that they can conceive a child to take on his father’s responsibilities. Rose intends to use this to her advantage to infiltrate the Dutchmen’s lands. What neither Tristan nor Rose anticipate is the undeniable attraction they feel towards one another which will have them questioning their future.

This was a well written paranormal romance story with an interesting storyline, superbly written scenes that immerse you in the story, and well written characters. Rose and Titan are both strong, determined, and hyper focused on what their future will look like. Neither are especially keen on the idea of love or marriage. Neither had the other factored into their future. Rose only wants to save her coven from the curse they are under and decides that marrying Tristan will be the ultimate sacrifice to do so. What she does not plan on is being attracted to the prince or his darkness. Tristan wants to save his father from the magic that is consuming and slowly killing him. To do so, he reluctantly agrees to marry but did not anticipate an actual attraction to Rose. The plans they both had seem to have gone slightly astray and it alters the course of the futures they had so carefully and meticulously planned out for themselves. As the two navigate through their feelings, their attraction, and the baggage they each carry they must decide if the future involves them being together. A great read with suspense, intrigue, passion, and romance.

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The Synchronicity of Love: Stories that Heal, Transform, and Awaken by John David Latta – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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The Synchronicity of Love: Stories that Heal, Transform, and AwakenThe Synchronicity of Love: Stories that Heal, Transform, and Awaken by John David Latta
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Synchronicity of Love is a memoir based on one man’s journey as he worked to transform himself and his life after a series of devastating blows and losses. After standing by his wife through her cancer journey the author finds himself alone and now a single dad. He is severely in debt and finds himself sinking deeper into despair as he struggles with the debt and fear of not being a good enough parent to his children. He is angry at his wife for leaving him and consumed with the crippling fear of death coming for him. The author feels bitter, sad, distraught, and overwhelmed at the circumstances that he finds himself in. To move forward he finds ways to cope and goes to a retreat that leads him on a journey of Unconditional Love that transforms his life.

This was a beautifully written, poignant, and thought-provoking memoir that many will be able to relate to and find inspiration from. Many of the stories are open, honest, and filled with raw emotions that will have you reaching for the Kleenex. Others are inspirational, encouraging and will have you looking at your life in a whole new perspective. Overall, this collection will pull on your heartstrings and reach into the very depths of your soul as you take the tumultuous journey with the author through his transformation. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to the author for your courage and strength in sharing your journey and innermost thoughts and feelings with us.

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Editor Kill Fee (The Taylor Browning Cozy Mysteries Book 3) by GG Collins – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Editor Kill Fee (Taylor Browning Cozy Mysteries #3)Editor Kill Fee by G.G. Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Editor Kill Fee is Book Three in The Taylor Browning Cozy Mysteries series. It is a beautifully written cozy mystery about the sudden and mysterious disappearance of the president of the Sante Fe Wine and Crime Book Club. While on her way to the book club Anita Juarez somehow manages to take a wrong turn and for the life of her cannot figure out how it happened. Anita is now on the infamous forest road 63A which has been nicknamed Devil’s Road by the locals. To get back on track she tries to turn around but in doing so she gets stuck in the ditch. She climbs out of the vehicle and intends to walk back to town to get a tow truck but feels inexplicably drawn into the woods.

When Anita does not show up at the Wine and Crime Book Club meeting her friends become worried and honorary member Taylor Browning contacts Detective Sanchez of the local police department. Taylor Browning is no stranger to the police as she has been in the wrong place at the wrong time in the past and has spoken with Det. Sanchez so frequently that she has him listed in her contacts. As it turns out the area Anita disappeared from has been notorious for numerous disappearances over the years. Taylor is now determined to figure out where she went and to solve the mystery of Anita’s disappearance. This leads to Taylor going undercover as a delivery driver and discovering the disappearance of a local restaurateur. Things begin to surface, and the mysteries intensify but Taylor is determined to get to the bottom of who or what is doing this. Things heat up and someone seems unhappy with Taylor and her friend’s interference and snooping around. When their lives are at risk it is up to Detective Sanchez to solve who is behind everything and save them.

This was a great book with an interesting storyline that pulled me and from the first few pages I was hooked. I loved how the author immediately lends an air of mystery, suspense, and intrigue with the setting of Devils Road and Anita being drawn into the woods by a mysterious force. It gave me goosebumps and I could not wait to read what happened next. The characters are well rounded, lovable, and relatable. Taylor is one smart cookie who is ambitious and determined to get to the bottom of a mystery. I loved how she was relentless in getting to bottom of Anita’s disappearance and unravel the truth behind what was going on. A great book with mystery, drama, suspense, intrigue, and twists and turns that will keep you reading until the end.

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Brutal Days (Hidden Valley Elite Book 3) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Brutal Days: A High School Bully Romance (Hidden Valley Elite Book 3)Brutal Days: A High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brutal Days is Book Three in the Hidden Valley Elite Series. It is a fast paced, and riveting bullies-to-lovers story that centers around the characters of Skylar and Damon. Skylar is an aspiring writer and best friend to Gia, who has set her sights on football running back Damon. Part of Gia’s senior plan involves becoming popular by dating a popular student. Gia wants Sky to act as matchmaker and although she wants no part of it, she reluctantly goes along with it because she will do anything for her best friend. Sky wants nothing to do with athletes and is not impressed by them or their status yet for some odd reason is attracted to Damon. Plans go a bit sideways when Damon becomes attracted to Sky even though he finds her to be mouthy. He is attracted to her feisty attitude and becomes determined to bend her to his will. As the attraction and feelings between them grow, Sky and Damon must hide how they truly feel or risk having their secrets exposed.

The author’s writing is exquisite, and I was drawn in to the story right from the beginning as I read about the complex relationship between best friends Skylar and Gia. The characters were multi layered and well developed, which can be seen through the characters of Sky, Gia, and Damon. Sky loves her best friend and will do anything for her yet knows that her friend can be demanding and unreasonable at times. Right out of the gate we learn that Sky is smart, loyal, dedicated, and wise beyond her years. She is not impressed by status or titles and has no desire to be popular. Gia, on the contrary, wants to be popular, wants to date an athlete, and is determined to be prom queen. She comes across as selfish, spoiled, manipulative, and used to getting her own way. Gia might consider Sky to be her best friend but also treats her like her puppet. Damon is a typical jock who is self-centered and used to getting his own way. This book was full of angst, secrets, lies, drama, tension, sizzling chemistry, and forbidden romance. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

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Concert Hall Hit (A Darcy Gaughan Mystery) by J.C. Kenney – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Concert Hall Hit is Book Two in the Darcy Gaughan Mystery series. It is a cozy murder mystery story that centers around the sudden and mysterious death of legendary British blues guitarist Derek Tuffnell. He had been signing autographs mere hours earlier during a meet and greet at Darcy Gaughan’s record store which makes her the prime suspect in his murder. To clear her name, Darcy takes it upon herself to solve Derek’s murder. As she starts digging into the case and unraveling the clues the list of suspects grows.

This was a brilliantly written cozy murder mystery that will have you trying to solve the mystery alongside our MC Darcy. I loved the small-town setting to the story and all the music references. The storyline was compelling and draws you into the story, and the characters were well developed. Darcy is a character that is lovable and relatable. She is smart, talented, strong, tenacious, and determined. Lacking trust in the local police who seem determined to pin Derek’s murder on her, she takes matters into her own hands to solve the case and find the real killer. The ensuing investigation is full of drama, mystery, suspense, and tension. The twists and turns in this murder mystery will keep you on your toes guessing whodunit. I highly recommend this book.

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Talks Like Thunder (Red With Native Blood Book 1) by Randal Nerhus & Marjorie Carter – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Talks Like Thunder is Book One in the Red With Native Blood Series. It is set in the Arizona Territory in 1871 and tells the story of a seven-year-old Apache girl named Talks Like Thunder. She is suddenly uprooted from all that she knows by her estranged grandfather from the Chiricahua village. As she grows and matures into a young woman, she has the desire to prove herself and transforms herself into a fierce warrior. When she is taken captive by US soldiers, she vows to seek revenge.

Talks Like Thunder is a beautifully written, poignant, and moving story about a young Apache girl who perseveres no matter what challenges come her way. The storyline is compelling, the scenes are vividly described and immerse you fully into the story, and the characters are well developed. Talks Like Thunder is strong, smart, kind, gentle, determined, and a fierce warrior. Changing environments, and even time spent in captivity, did not break her spirit. This was an amazing story with Indigenous American history, beliefs, and culture, and full of raw emotions that will have you reaching for a Kleenex. I highly recommend this beautiful and thought-provoking novella.

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A Monster for Meg (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

A Monster for Meg is an adorable story about a little girl who is blind and does not know what a monster looks like. Meg’s big sister, Sue, tries to explain to her what a monster looks like using other senses such as taste, sound, and touch. Sue is trying to scare Meg a little bit about monsters, but Meg compares everything Sue says to things that Sue has done. The game of comparison is fun for Meg, and she is enjoying how her sister explains monsters to her.

This book was beautifully written and perfect for children to learn about using other senses besides sight and what it is like for someone who is blind. The illustrations were bright, colorful, and really brought the story to life. I really enjoyed how the author used vivid descriptions to describe how a monster would feel or how it might sound. The relationship between Meg and her older sister Sue was loving and it was sweet how Sue was so patient in her explanations to Meg. I highly recommend this book and feel it is great for children of all ages.

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Breathless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls Book 3) by KG Fletcher – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Breathless Love (The Bennetts of Langston Falls, #3)Breathless Love by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Breathless Love is Book Three in The Bennetts of Langston Falls series. This story focuses on Hank, who dreams of being a country music star, and Ella Mae, who is a songwriter for her famous country music star, Travis. Hank was in a band, but they did not share in his dream, so he is now trying to figure out whether to continue pursuing his dream or work on the family farm. Hank meets Ella Mae purely by chance when he goes to her brother Travis’ concert. She invites him to go on tour with them and as they spend more time together their attraction grows and romance blooms between them.

This was an exquisitely written, wholesome contemporary romance with vivid scenes that fully immersed you into the storyline with the characters. The characters were wonderful, and I found them to be lovable, relatable, and easy to root for. Hank was old-fashioned, sincere, kind, smart, ambitious and it was refreshing to see how much in love he was with Ella Mae. He will do anything to protect her and be there for her as she struggles with her brother’s drug and alcohol addiction. Ella Mae is sweet, kind, sincere, driven, smart, and talented. She loves Hank and wants to be there for him as well even through her own struggles. The two share a mutual love for music which is the starting point for a romance between them to bloom from friendship to mutual attraction, to unconditional true love. A beautifully written love story with downs that will have you reaching for the box of Kleenex and other moments that will leave you breathless.

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Hot For Me (The Balefire Series Book 4) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Hot For Me (Balefire, #4)Hot For Me by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hot for Me is Book Four in The Balefire Series that is focused on the rock band, Balefire. It is a contemporary romance novel that tells the story of Cristy and Adam who are members of Balefire. Cristy is sex on heels, loves attention, and grabs headlines wherever she goes. When she goes on tour with the band, she immediately grabs Adam’s attention as well. Cristy loves to flirt with Adam and is equally attracted to him but enjoys the attention he gives her, and it takes awhile before she gives in to her primal urges. Adam wants more but Cristy does not want or need a relationship. She has demons from her past that she is unable to get past and they threaten to ruin any future she has.

This book was exquisitely written with a fascinating storyline, intriguing characters and vivid scene descriptions that fully immerse you into the story. It is told from the POV of both Adam and Cristy, so you experience their feelings and emotions along with them. The chemistry and attraction between Adam and Cristy sizzles off the pages. Adam is a Rockstar who wants more than a casual fling, but Cristy cannot offer him more because of her past secrets. Any relationship that Adam and Cristy may have seems doomed to fail because of not only those secrets but numerous external forces as well. Interfering managers, fans, gossip sites, and paparazzi all play a part in keeping the couple apart. The author takes us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with Adam and Cristy as they try to navigate through their relationship. This story is full of steamy sex scenes, love, anger, secrets, betrayal, and drama galore.

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Stay For Me (The Balefire Series Book 5) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Stay for Me is Book Five in The Balefire Series that is focused on the rock band, Balefire. It is a contemporary romance novel that tells the story of Garrett and Olivia who broke up ten years prior. Garrett chose to leave Olivia to pursue a career in the music industry managing a rock band. He has always regretted breaking it off with Olivia so when fate gives him a second chance, he does not want to do anything to mess it up. Olivia has worked hard over the past ten years to become a Hollywood music video director and has moved past her breakup with Garrett. When her studio is hired by rock band Balefire fate brings Garrett back into her life and Olivia is not happy about it. She does not trust Garrett to not hurt her again.

This book was well written and told from both Olivia and Garrett’s POV, so we can experience what each character is thinking and feeling. The characters are well written and relatable, and it is easy to empathize with both. Garrett comes across as a bit of a jerk at times, but we can see but we are able to see him grow and mature. He knows that he made a mistake ten years ago by walking away from the best thing that happened to him and he is willing to do whatever it takes to win her back. Olivia is smart, hard working and driven to succeed. Garrett hurt her immensely and she has worked hard to put that part of her life behind her. When he reenters her life, she is naturally wary of him and does not want to get hurt again. This was a well written second chance romance with passion, love and loss, drama, angst, chemistry, and a second chance at love.

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Fiddle and Fire (Hearts of Gold Book 2) by Ariella Talix – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Fiddle and Fire is Book Two in the Hearts of Gold series. It is a steamy MMF historical romance novel set in early San Francisco. The story centers around the characters of Suzette, Walter and Isaac who find themselves attracted to one another.

Walter and Isaac are best friends who have travelled across the country together and settled into San Francisco. Walter is secretly in love with Isaac but afraid to tell him for fear of the feelings not being reciprocated. At that time in San Francisco there were very few women so when Suzette blows into town both men find themselves attracted to her. Suzette is drawn to each man for different reasons and finds it hard to choose between them. She also seems to be the missing piece to their puzzle as she ignites the spark between Walter and Isaac. The solution seems to be for her to be with both men and that way she will not be forced to choose. The only problem is that Suzette has some dark secrets from her past that will threaten to ruin everything.

I loved the historical backdrop for the storyline and found the concept of MMF interesting for the time period it was set in. The characters were interesting and the added detail of Suzette having a dark past added a sense of mystery, danger, and suspense to the book. Her past threatens to destroy them all and puts all three of them in danger. I took away a star because this story was told from multiple points of view which I found a bit hard to follow at times. Overall, an interesting historical romance book.

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Stars Like Gasoline by Jessika Grewe Glover – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Stars Like Gasoline had me riveted from the first few pages and it was impossible to put down. I love a good ghost story and this one had it all with haunted houses, paranormal happenings, ghosts, apparitions, mystery, suspense, drama, and danger. The storyline immediately intrigued me and captured my attention because it was full of ghostly apparitions and hauntings right at the start. Although the book immediately captured my attention because of the phantoms in the museum, that was not all there was to the story.

The story is centered around Celia, an art curator, and has an air of mystery and suspense when an art heist takes place. This book is superbly written with vivid scenes that pull you into the story alongside the characters. Each scene is described in so much detail that you are immersed in that time and place, seeing the same things as the MC, Celia. The apparitions appear before your very eyes. The artwork magically appears before you. It is all very surreal to experience and magical in its feel. You will surely feel the goosebumps start popping out on your arms and feel the tingling as the hairs on the back of your neck stand up when the ghostly apparitions come at you. The characters were well crafted, and the storyline was multi-faceted with interwoven elements of romance, poetic prose, family relationships, love, secrets, loss, and hidden agendas. I look forward to reading more from this new to me author.

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Soul Redeemed (War of Destiny Book 5) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Soul Redeemed is Book Five in the War of Destiny Series. Each book builds upon the one prior so I recommend reading the first four books in the series first. It will also introduce you to each of the characters and give you their background and story. This is a fast-paced paranormal story full of action, suspense, danger, intrigue, vampires, and twists and turns that will keep you reading to the end. The characters are beautifully written, diverse, and complex. Julia is the MC, and this book focuses on her POV as she struggles through her journey of becoming a vampire. She is strong, smart, determined and we have watched her grow and mature through each of the books. Julia’s journey has left her with feelings of regret, and she struggles with self-harm behavior. This is heart wrenching to read, and you want to reach out and give her a hug. The author has done a great job of world building and creating vivid scenes that immerse you fully into the story alongside the characters. As their journey continues the stakes are even higher for the characters and they are in a race against time. I highly recommend this vampire paranormal series that will grab your attention from the first book and keep you reading to the end.

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Afflicted Love (Rhythm & Heart Series) by Autumn Sand – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Afflicted LoveAfflicted Love by Autumn Sand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Afflicted Love is Book One in the Rhythm and Heart series. It is a MM romance story full of raw emotion, passion, lust, and forbidden love. It tells the story of Kyle and Lyle who met when they were younger, after Kyle saved Lyle from being bullied. The two became friends, and Kyle vowed to always protect Lyle. Over the years they had to navigate the feelings that they were having as they eventually started feeling more for each other. Both boys have grown up with abuse and neglect in their lives so when they met, they vowed to be there for one another. When they become separated after an unfortunate incident neither expects to see the other again. Lyle has spent years denying how he feels about Kyle and has tried to put it behind him until a death in the family brings them together. Can they put aside the hurt, anger, and betrayal and move on together?

This was a beautiful story of forbidden love, overcoming inner demons, and family dynamics. Please be advised that it does have some dark material that may contain triggers for some. The characters of Lyle and Kyle were wonderfully written, and their story is compelling, tragic, and complex. The bond they have and how they feel for one another must be kept hidden because it is forbidden and not tolerated by those closest to them. Their love is considered wrong and forbidden. This book will have you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as you experience the pain, betrayal, anger, grief, love, lust, and despair that Lyle and Kyle navigate through. A fantastic read.

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A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

A Curse of Ash and Iron is an imaginative and intriguing retelling of the classic Cinderella story and is geared towards young adults. It takes place in 1876 during the time when steam machines are becoming invented and has a bit of a steampunk element to it. The story is told from two different POV’s, Ellie and Ben’s.

When Ellie’s mom dies her father remarries and she becomes a stepsister to Rebecca who, unlike the classic fairytale, is not mean at all. The stepmother is cruel, mean, cold and puts Ellie and her father both under a spell. The spell must be broken before midnight on New Year’s Eve, or it can never be undone. Enter Ben, who is Ellie’s childhood best friend who has not seen her in years. When he realizes that Ellie is under a spell, he knows that he must be the one to save her. Will Ben have what it takes to be a hero and save Ellie and her dad from the spell before it is too late?

This was a creative retelling of the classic fairytale that I really enjoyed. The twists that the author put on it were interesting and fun. The characters are ones that you can love and hate at the same time. The stepmother is the typical, wicked, and evil stepmother that you naturally loathe. Ben wants to be a hero for Ellie’s sake, if he can stop swooning over her long enough. He is smart, kind, and cares for Ellie a great deal. Ellie seems to be a bit naïve, but I felt that was probably because of the spell the evil stepmother cast on her. A great story full of magic, historical elements, fantasy, romance, suspense, drama, and a steampunk element.

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Lap Baby by Amy Q. Barker – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Lap Baby: Emotional Women's FictionLap Baby: Emotional Women’s Fiction by Amy Q. Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lap Baby tells the story of three women who survived a plane crash twenty years prior. Each woman has coped with the crash in a different way as they try to move forward and overcome their grief. Paige was a baby, a lap baby, when the event occurred and was adopted after the accident. She is happy and just wants to forget that it ever happened. Marie has never gotten over the loss of her son who died in the accident and needed to blame someone for the crash. She has decided that it was Julie’s fault and wants revenge as the anger and hatred eats away at her. Julie was the flight attendant on the plane who had had to live with the choices she made during that day. She lives with the guilt and the consequences of her decisions. Each woman has learned to cope in a different way as they try to heal. They struggle with issues like alcoholism, PTSD, and self-doubt, that have a ripple effect through their lives.

This author was new to me, but I know that I will be looking for more of her writing. This book was based on a true story, which I did not know when I started to read it. It was compelling, heartfelt, heartbreaking, and hard to put down. The author did a beautiful job of sharing the stories of the survivors of this horrific plane crash and how it affected their lives even years later. The characters are beautifully written and relatable, so it is easy to get invested in their individual lives and story. This is an emotional read that will tug at your heartstrings and have you reaching for the box of Kleenex. I highly recommend this book!

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The Vassal of Magic (The Virus of Beauty Book 3) by C.B. Lyall – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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The Vassal of Magic (Virus of Beauty, #3)The Vassal of Magic by C.B. Lyall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Vassal of Magic is Book Three in The Virus of Beauty Series. The book picks up where the first two left off so I highly recommend reading them first or you may feel a bit lost. The story continues with Wilf as he struggles with his magical powers. As much as he wants to be a normal teenager, he must make the decision to tap farther into his magical abilities or allow an ancient magical realm to perish if he stands back and does not intervene. The problem is that he is unsure how to fully harness his magical powers and that makes things a bit trickier. The stakes are higher for Wilf this time and time is running out for Wilf to make a choice as he struggles to protect his girlfriend Katryna and his loved ones.

I have read and enjoyed this entire series and the author never fails to provide an entertaining story with magnificent writing. The scenes are vividly described and pull you into each scene with the characters. I loved the way the author wrote and described the magical realm and felt transported there with the characters. The characters are beautifully written, unique, quirky, and lovable. You cannot help but root for Wilf as he struggles with the dilemma of being normal or of fully harnessing his magic. Wilf struggled to believe in himself and his capabilities as he tried to decide whether harnessing the powers within him would make matters better or worse. He bore the weight of the world on his shoulders and was burdened with a major dilemma to save a magical realm and his loved ones. In this installment we see Wilf grow and become stronger as he and his friends work together. This book was full of action, suspense, danger, mystery, magic, wizards, witches, family, friendships, and love. I highly recommend this riveting and entertaining series.

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Savage Truth (Hidden Valley Elite Book 2) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Savage Truth: A High School Bully Romance (Hidden Valley Elite Book 2)Savage Truth: A High School Bully Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Savage Truth is Book Two in the Hidden Valley Elite series. The book carries on with the story from Book One that was filled with drama, anger, hatred, with a bully themed/friends turning to lover’s theme. It centers around the characters of Riley and Cole who both attend Hidden Valley Elite high school. Cole is known as one of the Elites at the school because he is a star of the football team and basically becomes the king of everything he does. He is the type of guy that guys want to be and that girls want to be with. Riley used to attend the school and has just returned after being gone for a year. She never imagined that she would be returning after being on the run with her mom from her mother’s psychotic ex-boyfriend. Riley also never expected to see Cole again after they shared a secret kiss while drunk at a party. Cole has not been able to get Riley out of his mind since then so when he sees her again feelings surface. In typical douchebag, jock, I’m-too-good-for-everyone behavior Cole decides to torment and bully Riley. She stands her ground and pushes back and the two play the cat and mouse game back and forth as they maneuver through their love-hate relationship.

In Book Two the story of Riley and Cole continues, and we are able to see its conclusion. The cat and mouse game between them continues and the chemistry between them grows. Cole realizes that he has intense feelings for Riley that he has been denying. In the past all he cared about were physical relationships but with Riley he feels a deep connection. Riley realizes that she loves Cole and has never felt like this about anyone before. Things heat up when secrets start to come to light about Riley’s mom and the true reasons Cole hates Riley and her mom. When secrets about who Riley’s dad is come to light and Riley’s life may be in danger, Riley must decide if she will run again or have the strength to stay. As the secrets and lies surface and danger looms, it pushes Riley and Cole to make hard decisions. Rather than fight each other they decide to fight for one another and protect one another at all costs.

This storyline may cause triggers to some because of its dark subject matter. As a survivor of bullying in high school it was a bit difficult to read at times. The characters are ones that you will either love or hate. Or in the case of Cole, love to hate at first. In the beginning, he was a bully through and through and had the attitude that he was better than everyone else. Yet, you cannot help but feel that there is more under the surface and must understand that high school is a popularity contest. Cole is used to getting his own way, used to winning, and used to being popular so he could not risk losing all that. Riley is used to living a life in hiding, running from her mom’s ex, and never staying in one place long. She just wants to get through high school and not draw attention to herself. Yet, Riley is not the type of girl to put up with stuff and will stand her ground and push back. She is strong and feisty. Both Riley and Cole developed and matured in this book. We were able to see a softer side of Cole that loved Riley and wanted to protect her from harm. Their love-hate game slowly bloomed into more, but it did not come easily. Great series that will have you reading to the end to find out what happens.

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Healing Kiss by Amanda Uhl – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Healing KissHealing Kiss by Amanda Uhl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Healing Kiss tells the story of a nurse named Lillian who has been on the run from an evil corporation who wants to use her as their guinea pig. To save herself and her family she faked her death and took on the new name of Zoey. Lillian/Zoey has healing powers that the evil corporation, Kinetica, want to monopolize on for their own gain. Lillian knows that if they capture her, she will be dead because they killed her mother. When she finds out that her sister Hannah is dying, she risks her life to come back and try to save her sister’s life. When she gets to the hospital, she discovers that she does not have enough energy to save her and needs to find someone she can draw energy from. Enter Tristan, whom Lillian meets by accident outside the hospital. She strikes up a deal with him without telling him the true reasons she needs his help because she is fearful of Tristan’s reaction. Rather than tell him about her healing powers she makes up a story, but secrets have a way of coming out eventually.

I loved how this storyline was laid out and the author’s writing style. The story was about more than two people meeting and eventually falling in love. It was also about the supernatural gift that Lillian had which came at a risk to use. Lillian’s gift of healing powers was one that intrigued and fascinated me. It was unfortunate that she had to hide it and herself from those that intended to bring harm to her and her family. I enjoyed the aspect of the evil corporation being after Lillian which added a bit of danger, suspense, and intrigue to the storyline. The characters were well written and the way in which Lillian and Tristan meet is quite believable. Fate brought them both together for a bigger purpose. I enjoyed how the romance slowly builds between them and the attraction between them grows. This was a beautifully written love story with supernatural elements, mystery, suspense, intrigue, danger, secrets, and lies.

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Three Women in November by Jim Shomos – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Three Women in November is based on a true story of a divorced dad of boys living in Australia who decides to move on and find love. Leo is a bit of a romantic with old-fashioned ideas about love, dating, and romance. In his quest for love he meets three very different women with different backgrounds that capture his attention.

Leo meets Zoya on a business trip and likes her, so he pursues a relationship with her. The chemistry is there between them, but Zoya tends to lash out in anger at odd times. They decide the relationship will not work and call it quits. She does let him know that his scars will never heal unless he works on them.

Leo finds himself single and talking to his counsellor who he develops an attraction to, but he is her patient. They do try a relationship, but it does not work out. Aysha tells him that he needs to learn to love himself or a relationship will never work.

Then Leo meets Jade who is in a flailing marriage and must put the needs of her children first. She is trying to find her way after her marriage ends and must wait until her son finishes school in November.

This was an interesting story and I enjoyed how the pursuit of love and a soulmate was told from the male’s point of view. I found it unique and refreshing that a man like Leo could be old-fashioned and a true romantic at heart. Leo met three very different women who all had their own issues and baggage, yet they all had things in common. Each of these women have unresolved issues and emotional scars. Each woman makes him wait to have a normal and healthy relationship. Each woman’s deadlines for love have Leo waiting until November. Each woman tells him that he needs to work on himself before he can have a healthy relationship. This is so true, and I feel that most of us can relate to how broken and unlovable we feel after coming out of a bad relationship. We cannot truly love another unless we learn to love ourselves first. This book was a great read that shows us how vulnerable men can also feel while seeking love. It was a light hearted, emotional, witty, raw, and real look at love, dating, and relationships.

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