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Aiko (Heartstrings Book 1) by Brooke May – Review by Tia Martel

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AikoAiko by Brooke May
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cupid doesn’t work alone. He has six assistants and Aiko is just one of them. Buuut Aiko is a little rough to say the least. Her helping couples find love has lead to some very questionable situations and once or twice she’s been banned from helping humans. Now, for her first return to helping in nearly 50 years, she’s gotta help a man who may be more disastrous in love than she is.

Alejandro Gomez has it all when it comes to looks, but when it comes to love? He’s a mess. Can Aiko help Alejandro find himself and find love?

I loved the idea of this book. A Cupid helping humans find love: great. A Clumsy, tried-too-hard Cupid aiming for redemption: awesome. Unfortunately, the book didn’t hit all of the points I was hoping for.

I found the start of the book to be hard to follow when Aiko was narrating and commenting on Alejandro’s disaster. This cleared up some as the book went on and the author found a rhythm in the story she’s telling.

In other areas, I felt that there were several mistakes in editing that lead to me needing to re-read or spend a little more time on the section to determine what was being said.

Throughout the book there were some really good parts and Aiko was a great character and you could really feel for her when something went wrong. I feel that the errors and beginning of the book really made it hard for me to follow at first, but I’m willing to try again with hook 2 of the cupids.

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Malayeka (Heartstrings Book 3) by Brooke May – Review by Tia Martel

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Malayeka (Heartstrings Book 3)Malayeka by Brooke May
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cupid can’t do it all. So while he’s busy, his six assistants are helping humans find true love. Malayeka is one of those assistants.

Two centuries ago Malayeka helped a family and today the repercussions are still stinging the small village clans. Malayeka is certain she can still complete this assignment and is determined to help her charge find love. But when the Reids and Thomsons feud is in front of her, she’s even more determined to help straighten things out.

A divided town, fighting families, and a love that is reminiscent of Shakespeare? What else could go wrong?

Book 3 was charming and quaint and very relatable when it comes to the love of sugar and sweets. In this book, Malayeka is given an assignment similar to one she’s had before, and even in the same town.

Our star crossed lovers are Billie and Leo. Two sides of a feuding town, and secret friends since childhood. It’s obvious there’s more to the story almost immediately and Malayeka is determined to not let history repeat and to help clean up a mess this towns been fighting for centuries.

This was a fun, entertaining read with a few mistakes throughout but enjoyable nonetheless. There were hints mentioned throughout that make me hope for more books. I mean with six assistants we have to have at least six books, right? But please tell me we will hear more about the hints throughout!

A unique idea with well known storylines has worked well so far, and I will be watching for more.

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The Rom Com Movie Club (The Rom Com Movie Club Book 1) by Bernadette Marie – Review by Tia Martel

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The Rom Com Movie Club - Book OneThe Rom Com Movie Club – Book One by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Every month Lisa, Mindy, Ruby, and Tina get together for Rom Com Movie night. These nights include wine and facial masks and their favorite romantic comedy movies, because everyone loves a happily ever after.

Lid has never believed happily ever after exists after being tossed from home to home growing up. Before meeting the other girls, she never believed anyone stayed, but her friends became her home and helped her get through each day. With things getting stressful before Tina’s wedding, it seems like life just keeps throwing obstacles in when Ryan walks into the middle of Rom Com Movie Night

Ryan has just decided to come back home and live with his parents while waiting for a new opportunity to arise. He never expected that opportunity to be at Rom Com Movie Night when he followed his brother over.

Falling in love wasn’t on Lisa’s radar, falling in love with her best friends soon to be brother-in-law was far from ideal timing. Now juggling a new love and a best friend believing Lisa’s out to ruin the wedding, Lisa has to decide between the love of her friend or the potential love of her life.

This was such a fun, light read! The characters were relatable and you definitely find yourself rooting for Lisa and Ryan while also feeling for Tina’s fears for her future. It’s a book I would enjoy reading over and over again. I can’t wait for book 2!

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The Protector (The Freemasons Book 4) by Nicole Flockton – Review by Tia Martel

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The Protector (The Freemasons #4)The Protector by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Renee Cadmon was rescued from a horror that’s impossible for her to explain. After being kidnapped and tortured for three years, she’s back and taking steps to reclaim her life for herself. Declan Burkhard is not only her brother’s best friend, but someone Renee has had feelings for for as long as she can remember. Now there’s no way he’d want anything to do with her broken self, but what is his reason for staying so close?

Declan knows that Renee is worthy of the world. Before she was kidnapped he was fighting with his feelings to determine if he should try for more than friendship, now that she’s home he knows she’s all there is for him. He’s willing to sit back and wait for her even if it takes forever, and while he waits he’s going to be there to protect her while she maneuvers life back home. He’s happy sitting on the sidelines if that’s all she needs.

With the returning threat of the man who kidnapped Renee, Declan must do whatever it takes to keep her safe and show her she’s not alone.

Book four did not disappoint! Every book I read with the Fab Four has me wanting a man who can protect and serve like these four do. This fourth installment is a best friend’s little sister trope and I am so here for it.

Plenty of trigger warnings as there are mentions of Sexual Assault, violence, and kidnapping, but if you love a story about a man willing to wait for the woman he loves this is a good one.

I highly recommend reading all four in order as there are mentions in each book that build on each other to get you through to this one. However, it’s not entirely necessary to read them all to read this one.

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The Hunter (The Freemasons Book 2) by Nicole Flockton – Review by Tia Martel

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The Hunter (The Freemasons, #2)The Hunter by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After losing her father, Gemma Hughes is determined to find the people who caused his death. With limited information to go on, everything she is seeing leading her to the organization her father was once a part of.

Dominic Cacciari is determined to keep the secrets of the Freemasons at any cost. He won’t let Gemma tear them down and will keep her as close as he needs to in order to protect those who need protection.

When Dominic and Gemma find themselves attracted to one another they’re determined not to let it go anywhere. Neither trusts the other but fate keeps throwing them together until it’s too late to see the difference between what they’re fighting for.

The Hunter is book two in the Freemason’s series and it’s absolutely heartwarming. Dominic’s protectiveness and Gemma’s sass make for a fun story. You find yourself rooting for them and hoping they both find the truth and soon.

There were a few parts that the story I found confusing but it was minor and a re-read and focus was all it took to get past it. While I think this book in the series can definitely be a standalone, I feel that there’s a good bit of information to gain by reading book one as well.

This was a fun, spicy Enemies(ish) to Lovers trope. Excited for the next two in the series.

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Friends with Benies (Paris in Springtime Book 7) by T.B. Bond – Review by Tia Martel

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Friends with Benies: An AMBW Paranormal Romance (Paris in Springtime Book 7)Friends with Benies: An AMBW Paranormal Romance by T.B. Bond
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wednesday Family is a witch, and is in love with her best friend, Ryker. Ryker just happens to be a panda shifter, which for anyone else might not be a big deal, but he’s got a mate out there and Wednesday knows she needs to let him go. And soon.

Oh. My. Goddess. This was such a heartwarming and sweet story of these two. I’m usually pretty skeptical when it comes to books about shifters but I’m so glad I took a chance on Wednesday and Ryker because I can see this being a book I could read again and again.

There’s a hint of steamy here and there, but it doesn’t equal the entire story. The characters are great and I am 100% going to need a book about Gomez and the new friend even if they aren’t the same book! I’m looking forward to reading more from this author because Paris in Springtime clearly knows it’s romance.

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Divided Lives by K.R. Mullins – Review by Tia Martel

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Divided LivesDivided Lives by K.R. Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lottie lives two lives. In one life she works as a clerk for Justice Goff, the other she hangs in the balance with a secret lover and rejection of tradition.

When a high profile case comes into the office, Lottie finds her two lives meeting and wreaking havoc. She’s now facing blackmail if she doesn’t do what they want and must determine what, if anything, the blackmail has to do with the police officers case and who is involved.

I really enjoyed reading this! When I first picked it up I was excited to try a new title from an author I had read some Young Adult material from (Notebook Mysteries). As I was reading, several names popped up that were also in those books and at first I was a bit confused not realizing they were connected until I was a bit further in.

The author enjoys going back and forth between past and present within her books and it can get a little confusing if it’s not something you are used to. However, I feel like it was much easier to follow in this book and I enjoyed the glimpses into Lottie’s past to help solidify where she was in the present state of mind.

Fun, somewhat suspenseful read and I’m looking forward to more.

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The Victor (The Freemasons Book 1) by Nicole Flockton – Review by Tia Martel

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The Victor (The Freemasons #1)The Victor by Nicole Flockton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The only thing Ava wants from her husband is a divorce. She really wasn’t expecting him to say no to the idea, but he did and now she’s confused.

Cole had waited six months for Ava to come back home and he isn’t ready to let her or their marriage go. In an attempt to keep her close, he hires her to plan a fundraiser and at the end says he will agree to a divorce.

Now working so closely, feelings are rising and they’re forced to face what drove Ava away and kept her there. Is it too late to save their marriage or are they doomed to divorce? Who will be the victor?

This was a fun, sweet and light read. I absolutely adored reading about Ava and Cole and feel connected to the other characters as well. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series and possibly looking into other works from this author.

If you like romance, strong independent characters, and the idea of falling apart in order to fall back together, this is a book for you!

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Grave Digger Academy II (Grave Digger Academy Book 2) by C.A. King – Review by Tia Martel

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Grave Digger Academy IIGrave Digger Academy II by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MaKayla and the rest of the group are back for year 2 at Grave Digger Academy, which means, no one has been able to transfer out. Eh- that’s probably a good thing since this year, the inter-academy games are happening and with Grave Digger Academy being small, but also on the Crones’ radar, they’re going to need all hands on deck-er-shovels?

Winning the games is really the only way to keep the doors of Grave Digger Academy open, so the choice isn’t really there for this group of students but when the game starts it’s clear something isn’t right. Can the competition end before it’s too late or are the gravedigger’s going to have a new job coming up?

Book 2 was so fun! I really enjoyed reading about year two, but it felt very rushed. The timeline with this book made the school year feel like it started and ended within days of each other, which according to the ending, isn’t what happens.

I would have loved to have more preparation for the competition and more character interactions throughout this book, but overall I’m quite happy with book 2 and can’t wait to see what year 3 brings!

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Grave Digger Academy (Grave Digger Academy Book 1) by C.A. King – Review by Tia Martel

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Grave Digger AcademyGrave Digger Academy by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s simple. Gravediggers dig the graves while Grave Diggers keep the bodies buried.

No one wants to end up at Grave Digger Academy. So when MaKayla’s other choices in the paranormal academy system refuse her entry, the only thing on her mind is finding a way out. Of course, it’s not going to be that easy.

This was a fun, quick read about a young witch who just wants to find a way to fit in to the paranormal world. MaKayla is the only daughter in a family of bright sons and is trying to prove her worth when it seems her powers aren’t ready to shine.

Grave Digger Academy is her first year and with all the normal teenager drama comes a little more than they all bargained for. I loved this book and I’m so excited to get started on book 2 and see what happens in MaKayla’s next year! I think my only complaint is the timeline seems to run a bit fast.

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Into the Light (Moon Harbor Series Book 3) by Kate McWilliams – Review by Tia Martel

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Into the LightInto the Light by Kate McWilliams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rafael has a secret he’s keeping from all of his friends. He thinks he’s cursed because when he gets close to someone they end up hurt. Since coming to Moon Harbor, he is known as quiet and reliable but he’s worried that if they knew, they’d think differently.

Ellie Waters is over being treated like a doll. She wants to love life how she wants and what she wants is Rafael. She’s all grown up now, but can’t seem to figure out if Raf sees her as more than his best friends little sister.

Soon RAF and Ellie can’t keep away from each other and they fall into the teeming romance that’s been hovering between them, but Raf’s past soon rises and threatens everything they’re building. Moon Harbor and Ellie are both at risk with all kinds of trouble coming for Rafael.

I found this short book to be a fun read with some twists I wasn’t expecting. It was sweet where it needed to be and suspenseful when it mattered. I definitely didn’t want to put it down! I’m hopeful that the other titles in the Moon Harbor series are just as fun, because I will definitely need more from this sweet town. My only complaint is how fast it was over!

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Blood Sector (V-Clan Book 1) by Lexi C. Foss – Review by Tia Martel

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Blood Sector (V-Clan #1)Blood Sector by Lexi C. Foss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Quinnlynn McNamara is the Princess of Blood Sector. After her parents death, she’s in line for the throne and all the Alpha Princes are fighting for her hand.

For the last century she’s been in hiding, but with Alpha Prince Kieran O’Callaghan finally catches up to her she is taken back to Blood Sector to tame her. Kieran is determined to take what was promised him and to finally claim her as his.

Quinn definitely wasn’t expecting what was waiting back home for her…but will she accept it?

This was probably one of my fastest reads this year, and I had definitely planned on taking my time. Blood Sector was a delightful, steamy, and suspenseful read. I loved every minute of the book.

Its well written and captures your attention almost immediately. The characters are enjoyable with plenty of mystery and growth.

I thought I knew what to expect but there were plenty of twists to keep me guessing. I’m ready for the next book!

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Changes and Challenges (Notebook Mysteries Book 3) by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Tia Martel

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Changes and Challenges (Notebook Mysteries book #3)Notebook Mysteries ~ Changes and Challenges by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emma is a young, upstanding girl in the 1880s but she’s also determined. Determined to help women be equal. Determined to solve crimes. And determined to do what she can to make a difference. In Changes & Challenges, Emma’s adventures continue.

In this book, the third installment, Emma is contacted by a client’s lawyer about the reading of a will. Faced with a decision to take on an inheritance, she sets up a meeting to determine if this new development is helpful for business.

When a trip to New York is inevitable, Jeremy and Emma find themselves inseparable and upon returning feel like they can’t be apart. However, in 1885, there aren’t many things a young couple can manage easily.

As life happens, so do varying cases that deal in mystery, murder, kidnapping and drugs. As things unfold, Emma finds herself in Paris with Tony for a case. She will have to use all of her skills and knowledge to safely navigate everything thrown her way.

In this book 3, the reader is still approached in third person, as if the story is told from another perspective. The consistency between the previous books into this one is appreciated as it can get difficult to keep up with a third person view in the way this is written.

One strong difference I felt in this book was the detail. In the previous book, I felt detail was lacking and could be improved upon using the Narrator and Dear-One, however, this book has strong detail throughout and the storyline is well thought out.

I’m still fascinated by the concept of the journals reliving the cases, and I will continue reading more of the series as I can. If you choose to pick it up, reading the books in order works best to capture the information on the characters the best, but it’s far from necessary.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Unexpected Outcomes (Notebook Mysteries Book 4) by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Tia Martel

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Unexpected Outcomes (Notebook Mysteries book #4)Notebook Mysteries ~ Unexpected Outcomes by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book 4 starts us with Emma in 1887. Jeremy and Emma am start off immediately chasing bank robbers after a train wreck is used to help them escape and as usual death and mystery are in the air.

Once they’ve solved one mystery and return home there’s a bit of downtime, however, Emma is determined to not let normal life bring her down. Constantly searching for the next case, Emma searches the newspaper eagerly. Soon she’s got her hands full with one case and needs help with a second case that’s unfolding.

As usual, nothing is ever as it seems and Emma and Jeremy are left wondering if anything around them is what it appears.

Unexpected Outcomes is book 4 in the series and just like before, it all flows together. I feel like the reader can get more insight into what/who the Narrator might be, and just how strongly they (Narrator) follow along with the cases.

The story is strong in detail right from the start and definitely pulls your attention easily. I felt that the length worked well with the amount of cases and detail the author worked in and I’m excited for the next installment!

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

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

Kiki never expected to find love. Let alone with someone as normal as Eric, the mayor of Mustang Prairie.

Eric knows that being with a pop star is going to be rough, and as someone who values the privacy Mustang Prairie allows, it’s quite a change.

When Kiki finds herself pregnant, both her and Eric are excited, but it’s hard to feel like it’s real when your whole life has always been on display. Now Kiki must find a way to save herself from her agent and keep her new life safe from the paparazzi that comes with being a pop sensation. Can she move on from her past and will Eric be able to handle are her secrets?

With life growing inside her Kiki is forced to re-evaluate a lot of things in her life. Let it be Love is the story of two people, celebrities in their own right, falling in love and finding out that sometimes happy ever afters don’t go as planned.

This was a sweet story about how love can help guide you and support you through the tough times, the happy times, and the downright insane times. I feel like the characters were well built, and the town of Mustang Prairie really draws you in and makes you want to go and never leave.

I’m excited to read more about Mustang Prairie and the friends made along the way.

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Levi (The Brothers of Creekside Ranch Book 1) by Edith Mackenzie Review by Tia Martel

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LeviLevi by Edith Mackenzie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bella thought getting her ex-boyfriend arrested would be the end of it, but while waiting for the trial, she’s hiding out as a house-keeper and nanny for the Delaney family.

Levi is an ex-Navy SEAL with a haunted past. The last thing he needs is to take care of someone else, but when a friend calls, who better to help out than a man whose loyal behind all. Now he’s stuck with Bella and finds that she gets under his skin and takes some of his demons. Unfortunately, his brothers are also under her spell.

Can Levi keep Bella safe and also keep his heart safe?

Can Bella find a way to heal Levi and herself?

Can they even survive long enough to find out?

This story was amazing! I had every intention of letting it slowly unfold over the course of a week, but once I started I couldn’t put it down. So I finished it in a day. Oops!

Levi is everything a girl wants in a wounded hero. Strong, brave, and handsome who wouldn’t want to be swept away by his pain and do everything they can to soothe his hurt and heal his heart. It’s no wonder Bella finds herself wanting to do just that.

Bella is strong willed and broken, but she’s so determined to find herself again after the trauma of her past relationship.

I feel like the only thing I would have liked to see more of would be Bella’s past in London and with Dmitri before she escaped him. This was a great read with a ton of suspense and a clean romance that burns nice and easy.

Can’t wait to read more about these Delaney brothers!

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Love is Worth Fighting for (The Meraki Series Book 3) by Effie Kammenou – Review by Tia Martel

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Love is Worth Fighting forLove is Worth Fighting for by Effie Kammenou
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Krystina and Loukas have known each other for their whole lives. At one point they were best friends and inseparable, that is until the other boys continues Loukas to do some things that in Krystina’s mind we’re unforgivable.

Krystina wants to be famous. What girl these days doesn’t want to travel and dreams of being a famous blogger on Instagram? But, as usual, Loukas is always there. All she wants is for him to leave her alone so she can breathe and do her own thing.

When situations arise and Krystina is stuck trying to manage it all, Loukas is there to help her through it all. Add on to that the search her family has been doing for her missing grandfather, and things start to get a little intense. Krystina and her sisters are determined to find and bring home this man even in the midst of hard times. This determination will test everything Krystina has and may help her learn that no matter what, love is worth the fight.

This was an entertaining read. I didn’t read much about the description prior to starting it, so I didn’t realize it took place during the pandemic and closures. I feel like the pandemic side of it was well done and realistically portrayed in most ways, although the timeline bouncing got me a little confused at times.

At times, the timeline felt jumbled to me when discussing present day events vs events happening that felt like they would have been in present day but were labeled differently (ex: one chapter would be present day in June, then suddenly it’s thanksgiving 2020, but the story continues into December). I enjoyed falling back in time with Kalliope and Panos so the dates on the timeline are definitely important to follow along with.

While it can be read as a standalone in the series, I feel that if I had read the first two books I would have been able to understand a little more in some parts. I found myself lost and unsure on several occasions and feel that the first part of the series may have helped with that confusion.

I loved that there are recipes found throughout some of the chapters because I enjoy food and plan to come back and try some of them!

Overall, I liked reading this book and would be will to try more from this author. However, definitely plan to read any series from her in order.

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The Happily Ever After Bookstore by Bernadette Marie – Review by Tia Martel

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The Happily Ever After BookstoreThe Happily Ever After Bookstore by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At Happily Ever After Bookstore, you come for a book but you get a Happily Ever After with it. Sometimes that happy ever after is in the book you’ve purchased, other times, you might just find it with someone else. Leona loves helping her customers find the perfect book, but when possible she might meddle a little more and help them find something they were missing.

When Sadie comes in looking for a Christmas Romance, Leona points her in the right direction. While looking for the perfect book, she bumps into Charlie. After both have selected their books, paid and left, they soon discover that Leona has mixed up their books! Now, on the hunt to find one another, they find themselves in the midst of match making and a holiday miracle starts to happen.

Sadie and Charlie aren’t the only ones who are finding their Happy Ever After from the bookstore either! When Fiona moves to town, she’s planning on starting over years after her divorce. When Leona discovers that both Fiona and her ex-husband Price are in the same town, she uses her skills to get them alone together. After all, it’s obvious there is unfinished business there.

Just when Leona thinks she’ll never find her happily ever after, something goes wrong with the bookstore and Jon Ford, handyman, enters to help fix it up. In no time, Leona starts to believe he could be her happily ever after but then finds out it’s more than just him she’s getting into. Is she ready to live a man and his kids with her whole being?

I loved this books set up and idea! The author does a wonderful job creating her characters and helping the reader see them fall in love. I only wish that it had been more interspersed or that each set of characters had their own book with more detail in it. The way this is set up gives more of a short story feel, which leaves me craving more.

Happily Ever After Bookstore definitely makes you believe in the magic of a good book and I’m curious to see if we get anymore of the happy ever afters that Leona has, or will, play a part in. Great writing, great premise and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

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PREMEDITATED: A Trust Betrayed, Lives Sabotaged, A Love Undaunted (Agents of Justice Book 2) by Susanna Haymond – Review by Tia Martel

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PremeditatedPremeditated by Susanna Haymond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Who do you turn to when everything you believe in is being attacked?

Someone is after the people trying to get the drugs off the street and anyone who might stand in their way. When one incident turns into a string of possibly drug-related crimes, it’s up to the DEA to find out who is giving out this much Kronilan. As they work to clear the streets, they find their friends under attack and now it’s gotten personal.

It’s a race against time and distribution to see if the DEA can stop the Kronilan before everything falls apart.

I don’t typically go for the religious romance genre, but decided to give this book a shot because I love a good romantic suspense. While it wasn’t 100% something I’d choose, it was enjoyable as a whole. Despite some errors with character names and time discrepancies, the plot and building of the storyline were well thought out and enjoyable. This was my first book by this author, so I’m curious if book 1 would have answered some of my questions while reading.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I felt that the twists in the ending were well done, and I definitely didn’t see it coming. I’d definitely be willing to check out more from this series.

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Oliver, A Story of Adoption by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tia Martel

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Oliver, A Story About AdoptionOliver, A Story About Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Oliver gets in trouble for climbing a tree that wasn’t ready for it, he finds himself upset and in his room thinking about what life would be like if he weren’t adopted.

Like many kids, Oliver wonders what it would be like to have a different family. Would he still be in trouble? What would his family be like? Would he have a big family or small? But just as we have all likely wondered, we’ve all come to conclude our lives would be a lot different if we weren’t where we were.

This is an adorable book about how family is what you make it and shows a great, realistic perspective of a child’s mind when they don’t get their way.

As an adoptive mother, I’m excited to share this story with my little one as he grows up and wonders about his biological family. Definitely recommend this book for families of all kinds!

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns Book 1) by Kay L. Moody – Review by Tia Martel

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns)Flame and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chloe has made a life for herself back in the mortal world as the town’s apothecary. As a human, she’s content living this way and is adamant that she will never go back to Faerie, but sometimes things change.

When a fae shows up begging for her help in saving Faerie, she repeatedly says no until it’s apparent she cannot keep refusing. Her sister is in danger and she must go help fight the angry humans poisoning Faerie with iron.

She packs a bag to make the trip, but when making their way into Faerie things take a turn when the humans are stronger than anticipated. Now armed with a new magic, Chloe has to save all of Faerie before it’s too late.

Flame and Crystal Thorns was a fun, suspenseful read with wonderful world building. If you’re a fan of Sarah J. Maas you will absolutely love this story! It pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t willingly let you go until you’re craving more.

I adored Chloe and Quintus, and I’m excited to check out book 2 in this series. I’m 100% hooked and ready for more time in Faerie with this crew!

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Taming of the Few (Guardians of the PHAE Book 1) by Rowan Dillon – Review by Tia Martel

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Taming of the FewTaming of the Few by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Something has changed and magical powers are being given to people who before didn’t have any. With these powers and changes come great fear and a desire to stay unnoticed, but the Unhidden can’t be kept from the public view.

Suddenly, a group of six Unhidden is the only thing standing between peace and death with total destruction and elimination. Can they save themselves and all of the Unhidden?

Taming of the Few was a fun and suspenseful read with great world building. With sass and attitude from the characters, this story really feels like something you can relate to (minus the magic). It is told from a variety of viewpoints, so if that’s not something you enjoy, this may not be a read for you. I’m excited to read more from the Guardians of PHAE series! And the title is definitely fun!

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The Fighter (An Underground Bad Boys Romance Book 3) by India Kells – Review by Tia Martel

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The Fighter (An Underground Bad Boys Romance, #3)The Fighter by India Kells
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Juliet is used to believing in herself and not relying on anyone, but when her friend Ten was ready to make a life changing decision, they made the choice to depend on each other. After a few too many hiccups, Ten decides he’s going to fix their problems by cage fighting. When he injured his opponent, things go a bit awry when payback is craved.

Jonathan Gage has been burned one too many times, and has given up on the idea of love when Juliet and Ten stumble their way into his path. Determined to help them, he invites them into his home and between them all they agree to explore the feelings growing between them all.

As luck would have it, Gage must give up the woman he’s found himself falling in love with, but Juliet must also figure out if what she really wants is her best friend or the fighter whose stolen her heart.

I stepped out of my comfort zone for this book and I definitely struggled with reading it. I think the storyline was well thought out and the plot has some really strong points. I found several errors throughout the book with words missing, out of place, and misspelled or incorrect which can be very distracting for a reader.

I enjoyed the characters and the development of them as individuals and as a unit. When I tend to look at romance, I tend to go for a duo, and reading this enforced that three or more in a relationship is definitely not for me.

The Fighter was definitely well thought out and planned, but another round of editing would have been good. Also, be sure to know what you’re getting into when picking a romance. I made the error of not realizing this was a MMF trope and may have gone a different route had I caught on to that.

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Blood & Ravens (The Casket Girls Series Book 1) by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Tia Martel

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Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance (The Casket Girls Book 1)Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At 22, Greer is taken from her life in Paris and forced into New Orleans with a group of girls, all given a casket-shaped suitcase they’re told not to open. Suddenly, she’s promised to a man she’s never met and living in a convent until she’s ready to be wed.

At night, Greer dreams of a tall, dark man she calls the Dark Knight and it soon becomes clear that he’s more than a dream. He’s a monster, and there’s other monsters feeding on her and several of the other girls that are with her. Now Greer has to figure out what she can do to save herself, and her friends.

Theron has been cast out of the Underworld and forced to live amongst the vampires, feeding in humans. When he finds his human intriguing and discovers himself falling for her, he’ll stop at nothing to find a way to help her and her friends even if it puts him in danger from Hades himself. Now Greer has more than just her friends and herself to worry about. Can she save them all?

Blood and Ravens was a fun, enjoyable read. While it’s on the shorter side, it held a good structure and a strong storyline without feeling too rushed. I enjoyed the characters and how they had clear personalities despite all being stuck in one place and just kind of thrown at the reader (this is to be expected based on the way the story is).

It presents dilemmas and questions about the things we would be willing to do for those we love while also showing an interesting romance between the characters. If faced with evil, I’d definitely want Greer on my side.

Can’t wait to see what’s next for the Casket Girls.

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The Hunted (Vampire Navy SEAL: Sam & Layla) by S.B. Alexander – Review by Tia Martel

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The Hunted (Vampire Navy SEAL: Sam & Layla, #1)The Hunted by S.B. Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sam Mason is terrifying, sexy, and powerful. As a Navy SEAL he’s trained to do some serious damage, but as a VAMPIRE Navy SEAL, he’s downright lethal.

Everything about Sam Mason puts Layla on edge. Before they met she was determined to capture him and turn him over to her employer, now she’s doing everything she can to keep her distance and keep him out of her head and her bed.

When the job goes sideways and Layla’s sisters are in danger, she has to turn to Sam and the SEALs for help. She’s trying so hard to trust the enemy and save her family, but can she save herself?

The Hunted is a spin-off series with some HEAT! Layla and Sam have some serious chemistry and the fact that there’s so much tension really helps bring in the burn.

There are some areas that could use some detail work and some spots I felt a little lost, but I imagine if I had read the original series I’d be a lot more in the loop. It’s definitely not needed to learn about Sam and Layla, but it could be useful for some other characters.

It’s a fun, light-hearted romantic suspense for the enemies to lovers and paranormal trope fans. I’d recommend it for anyone who loves a quick read and a slow burn. I’m excited to check out the previous series and also to see what is next.

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Weep, Woman, Weep: A Gothic Fairytale about Ancestral Hauntings by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Tia Martel

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Weep, Woman, WeepWeep, Woman, Weep by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

La Llorona haunts the riverbanks of Sueño, New Mexico, a town where women are constantly counteracting the good things with something of sadness. She’s the reason that the girls are told not to walk down to river, just in case La Llorona is looking for someone to take down to the bottom of the river.

Mercy loses her best friend to La Llorona, and barely survived herself. Now, struggling for her life and attempting to get past the sorrows of Sueño, Mercy must delve into a world of magic, healing, and maybe just maybe, she’ll make it out alive.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read! Weep, Woman, Weep is heartbreaking and beautiful. It has a lot of potential to give the reader more, but I feel reads more like a story/legend you tell around a campfire or such than a full length story. It reads much like one would think about something that happens to them, jumping from one place to another and retracing it’s steps. I know it’s not for everyone, but it definitely felt like it was made for this story. I’d love to read more from this author.

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Class Clown (Ghost Girl Series) by Allan Evans – Review by Tia Martel

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Class ClownClass Clown by Allan Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Abbey is a magnet. A magnet for ghosts. She’ll be the first to tell you it’s not glamorous or fun. I mean, how much fun is it when you lose friends and have your life in danger? After a night at the circus with her family, someone, or something, has followed her home; that something is bad. Now with dead clowns at her new high school and friends going missing Abbey is the only one who might be able to help, but she could also be the reason for the craziness…

This was such a fun read! It’s well written and leaves you wanting more from Abbey. She’s strong and independent and you can feel how much she cares about those around her. I haven’t read the first book (Abnormally Abbey) but definitely plan to go back and read it now. It’s not needed in order to read Class Clown though, so no worries on feeling lost!

If you are one to listen to music when you read, an 80’s playlist is what you’ll want for this story. Abbey’s internal song list is bound to get something stuck in your head.

Class Clown is a fun, spooky read and is an exciting twist on Young Adult. Now that I’ve read it, I want to find more Young Adult books in a similar fashion because while we didn’t have ghosts, being a teen was definitely hard work. Throw in some spookiness, and high school gets a lot tougher.

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Depending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall – Review by Tia Martel

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Depending On YouDepending On You by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cate Silver has a secret. 20 years ago she killed a man, but no one knew the truth. No one except her best friend Patti Thomas. Now with the case reopened, Cate is feeling the pressure of her secret and afraid of losing everything, thinks she needs to tell the truth.

Patti left at the end of the summer that year and had barely looked back. Now with Cate struggling to keep it quiet, Patti has decided that she needs to go home and help Cate.

Back in Vermont, the truth of that night threaten the friendship between two girls, now women, as evidence surfaces. Can they make it out the other side of this case?

Depending on You was a quick, entertaining read. It was very well written and you can definitely see the connection between the two friends almost immediately. This book has friendship, twists, lies, secrets, and murder. It makes you think about the friendships you have and the distance you’d be willing to go to protect the ones you love.

I think the most terrifying part about this book is the ability that situations like this can, and do, happen. I definitely recommend this book and to think through what you would do in varying situations because you never know what could happen.

Besides, what do you do when someone is depending on you?

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Wildcat: A Steamy Firefighter Romance by Carina Alyce – Review by Tia Martel

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Wildcat (MetroGen After Hours, #1)Wildcat by Carina Alyce
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Leslie McClunis is a ballerina turned firefighter. The men in the department think she needs to be more “feminine” and that women don’t belong. She’s determined to show them she can do what they do; including kicking one night stands to the curb in the morning.

Trevor Hampton is a big, tough football player who is not used to being told his time is up. So when Leslie tries to say goodbye, he’s determined to take their one night as far as he can.

This story was short with quite a bit of fire in the bedroom. I really enjoyed the characters and felt that Leslie’s firecracker attitude was portrayed nicely. However, throughout the story are journal entries that I felt didn’t progress the story and felt really out of place. I’m not sure if I’m missing something that the MetroGen after hours series builds on or if more will be explained in books to follow.

If you like spicy scenes and spicy women, you’ll definitely enjoy parts of this book. I wish there was more buildup and more story for sure. I do plan to see if I can learn more in the next part of the series because it felt incomplete to me.

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The Mesmerist by Claire Luana – Review by Tia Martel

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The MesmeristThe Mesmerist by Claire Luana
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Queen has been murdered!

When the Adrjissian royal family is being murdered one by one, the only thing that’s changed is Adrijana has come to the capitol. Determined to clear herself from the crimes, she agrees to stay and enlists the help of a charming royal Mesmerist, Dragan Vulpe, one of the magicians who can read and manipulate the thoughts and emotions of people around him.

But if the murders aren’t enough, the Vruk army is closing in on the borders around the capitol and it looks like the Vruk ambassadors are the biggest suspects in the deaths. As Adrijana investigates she finds evidence leading toward a Mesmer being involved and wonders who and what she can trust about those around her and herself. She’s going to have to find the killer before it’s too late.

The Mesmerist was a truly enchanting tale about a young girl trying to find her way in the world. The first few chapters felt a little slow for me but by Chapter 9 I didn’t want to put it down. It was fun, upbeat and you really feel for Adrijana as she struggles through finding herself and a killer in a palace where she thought she could find friendship.

This book has twists and turns and definitely kept me wondering what we were going to uncover next. If you enjoy magic and intrigue, you’ll love The Mesmerist.

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