Really enjoyed this novel and had a hard time getting things done until I finished it. Olivia is a loveable character, along with the friends she makes along the way. The author did a great job balancing good dialogue, a push and pull between lightness and heaviness, and wrapped it into a fun to read story that feels like a carnival ride. The range of people Olivia encounters while growing her business keep things interesting, and I liked how the author kept a bit of mystery around her two new suitors until the end. A fun read, for sure.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-10-13 07:45:552022-10-17 09:38:05Cooked: The Chef Blows Her Lid by Cari Schaeffer – Review by Wendy Wary
This is a steamy and dark tale about a love that never was and a couple trying to recapture what could’ve been. Lots of push and pull, some twists and turns, and internal struggle of fighting reality vs desire. Damian isn’t really able to go full in with Evelyn, and he continues to push her away while simultaneously fighting his pull to be with her. Evelyn is strong willed, though, and keeps pursuing Damian despite his attempts to keep her at arm’s length, unwittingly putting herself into deadly situations in the process. Convinced there’s no way out of his present circumstances except by death, Damian knows he needs to give up on any future with Evelyn. Can he finally convince her to stay away?
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-10-10 16:19:162022-10-11 12:38:26Breathe Underwater by Anise Storm & Taylor L. Ray – Review by Wendy Wary
Georgia is a fighter, and she’s spent most of her life fighting for herself, which makes it hard for her to accept help, even from her best friend and brother, when she faces losing everything she loves because of some financial strains. Entering a social media contest featuring pets is her hope to build more clientele for her small pet accessories business. As she navigates through challenges as her dog, Cookie, she gets to know her partner in the contest, a cat named Oliver – or rather his owner. Meanwhile, a real axe throwing viking fantasy come true enters her life and frustrates her in too many ways to count. Can she figure out how to let someone into her life?
This is such a cute story with great characters and lots of twists along the way.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-10-05 16:28:182022-10-06 08:24:11Hate You Later (Lit Lovers Series Book 1) by Ciara Blume – Review by Wendy Wary
First off, I commend the author for putting her innermost thoughts out into the world. I feel like the elderly are oftentimes overlooked in society and they have great wisdom and experiences to share and they’ve lived through bizarrely fast changes to the world around us. This author is no different in imparting her wisdom and lots of information about the world in which we live. I found her to be inspiring to love oneself and take care of one’s health, and I enjoyed reading about her insights to the life of an aging woman living an unconventional life.
The book is more of a stream of consciousness during her period of writing, and was easy to read. My only criticism, and the reason for less than 4 stars, is the repetition of information throughout the book – her need to keep referencing her other published books numerous times, her heart issue she was cured from, and her decision to leave her home on a nomadic journey with no destination in mind. After so many times reading about it, I kind of felt like, yeah, I get it. Although, again, because of the way it’s written and that these things are pretty fantastic and obviously big deals to the author, I can kind of empathize with her bringing it up so often.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-09-14 16:41:032022-09-15 08:12:41Destiny’s Daughter (Intimate and Unfiltered Book 3) by Lynda Filler – Review by Wendy Wary
This is a sweet take on a romance that comes together despite seemingly impossible obstacles. There’s an element of fairy magic, but most of the story isn’t about fairies or magic, so that part was a bit confusing as to why it was included in the story at all; however, I’m guessing perhaps there’s more to that in future books. The fairy/magic element didn’t take away from the overall story, either, though, so it’ll be interesting to see that develop a bit more into the storyline. Despite that, it was beautifully written and the characters are easy to fall in love with or hate. Worth a read, for sure!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-09-08 20:17:512022-09-12 12:22:59Ashes (Modern-Day Fairy Tale Book 1) by MK Harkins – Review by Wendy Wary
Laced with Aztecan culture, this story is about a little girl born with a mark of a goddess of darkness that scares her family into giving her up to a Shaman, who promises to help guide her to control the beast he’s certain lies within. Treating her with kindness and helping her to tame her emotions serves its purpose until his true intentions are revealed and she escapes on a quest to save her people. Through unleashing her inner “beast,” Azreya also learns to trust herself and the goddess who has shown her favor. This was a fascinating tale that brought to life some insights to a long lost people.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-09-08 19:51:142022-09-12 12:22:22Azreya, Aztec Priestess: An Illustrated Mythology Legend by Tricia Copeland, Illustrated by Matt Maes – Review by Wendy Wary
Angie Taylor and her friends are abducted during a Spring Break trip to Florida. Escaping the kidnapper, she runs into a police officer while holding a bloody screwdriver she used to stab her abductor. The police find her friends in the SUV they rented, all stabbed with a screwdriver, and find no trace of the kidnapper, believing Angie murdered them and is delusional about having been abducted. Following further trauma while being held in jail, Angie goes silent and is transferred to a secure psychiatric facility. While everyone waits to see if Angie can find her voice again, police convince themselves it’s an open and shut case, and her doctor and nurse continue attempts to help Angie speak again. When the FBI sends a special agent, Brenda Reynolds, to dig deeper into the story and seek out the potential kidnapper, she enlists the help of a canine handler who may hold the key to getting Angie to speak again. This is a fast-paced, action/mystery story with some twists and turns, sensitive content regarding sexual assault and sex trafficking, and an original story line. I appreciated the fact-checking section at the end that described what’s real and what’s fiction, providing some insight to some of the information given and proving the book to be educational as well as entertaining.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-08-18 09:39:322022-08-20 13:24:49The Girl Who Escaped by Mark Nolan – Review by Wendy Wary
In the final book of the series, Nico finally gets his chance at love. Mia is the daughter of a New York crime boss, who only wants to use her as a pawn in his plans to strengthen his position. Escaping her sadistic step-brother after he catches her attempting to flee leads Mia to track down help from the Chicago’s Five Families for protection and to take down her father’s sex trafficking business. Following along with previous books in the series, the Five Families (and Nico) take Mia into their fold and a quick romance ensues between the couple, who then faces death, destruction, mafia politics, and plenty of drama/action along the way. I’ve truly enjoyed this series and have loved getting to know the characters. The author explains there will be a spin-off series involving the New York families, and I’m excited to see how it all ties together.
After a failed relationship with a former client, Paige swears to keep things strictly professional moving forward. When she discovers a new talent for her boss’s art gallery to represent, she goes to Montana to meet with Mark, the artist, and convince him to sell his work at a show. Mark, who doesn’t need the money, just wants to stay on his ranch and continue his rescue efforts for old horses that would otherwise be put down. Painting is a hobby and release for him, but he’s not interested in Paige’s offer. The woman, however, he’s intrigued by, despite his own previous heartbreak dealing with an ex-fiancee, whom it turns out was only in it for his money. Paige feels a connection to Mark, but holds to her vow to keep things professional, at least for some time. The pull for both is strong, but Paige continues to push away, despite convincing Mark to do a show with a guarantee of a large sum of money to help his rescue efforts. She has to fight her personal reservations while staying with him as he completes the paintings, which becomes more difficult with time. By the time the show comes around, Mark tires of the mixed signals and overhears a conversation that jeapordizes any chance of the two finding a happy ever after. Only when his rescue horse, the one that he painted and caught Paige’s attention with, falls ill do the two come back together. The question becomes if the pair can overcome their stubbornness and history to finally accept one another and begin a true relationship. This was an enjoyable read with lovely characters. The author did a nice job of weaving the personalities of the animals into the story, as well.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-08-02 13:07:422022-08-04 09:30:52Paige and the Reluctant Artist by Darci Garcia – Review by Wendy Wary
An orphan, Elle grew up with very little information about her past. A mysterious birthmark is the only link to her family’s history, but when her adoptive “aunt” dies, Elle discovers a few of her mother’s personal effects and things take an unexpected turn in her life. The people her mother ran from during her pregnancy show up to take Elle captive, and she’s rescued by a mysterious trio that explain she’s not only from another planet, but she’s actually royalty from her home planet. If that’s not enough, Elle is blessed by the Goddesses with a variety of additional “birthmarks” that appear through her journey from Earth to Prias. Rescue missions along the way that don’t go as expected, and a romance that builds with one of her rescuers, builds on twists and turns that are exciting to read. When Elle and her friends finally arrive on Prias, and she meets some of her people, she’s faced with figuring out where she fits in and how to undo all the harm inflicted by her uncle. This is such an original story with lots of drama and thrills that makes it hard to put down until the end.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-07-20 09:04:192022-07-21 07:03:28Princess of Prias by Courtney Davis – Review by Wendy Wary
Ella seems to be the most tenacious character I’ve read about in a while. She’s just lost her sister, Chrissy, after a two-year-long battle with cancer, during which Ella was the primary caretaker for both her sister and Chrissy’s daughter, Tessa. Returning back to her apartment following the funeral, she’s faced with an unexpected letter declaring an appointment Chrissy had at a Taylor’s Law Firm, the same firm that helped a greedy corporation swindle her family out of some of their farm’s acreage several years ago. This time, the family faces the threat of a custody battle over Tessa by her biological father, Drew, who seemingly wanted nothing to do with the pregnancy from the start. Things are only complicated further by letters from Chrissy posthumously delivered that imply she’s willing to give custody to Drew’s family in exchange for money. Despite her own reservations and disdain for the law firm, Ella is drawn to Jake Taylor himself, and the two exchange heated words that seem to only fan the flames of attraction between them. For Jake’s part, he’s unaware of the history between the families, but has his own reservations about Ella’s involvement in Chrissy’s “extortion plot.” There’s a lot of pushing and pulling between Ella and Jake, and when Drew finally agrees to a paternity test, things quickly cool off, much to Ella’s confusion and frustration. Drew has his own motives to pursue custody of Tessa; and after discovering the connection between Drew and Jake, Ella decides Jake is on the wrong side of her family’s best interests. She prepares for yet another legal battle against money and power, with the hopes that this fight doesn’t cost her everything she loves. The book is clever, with lovable characters, plenty of tension, and just the right amount of surprise. Some of the push-pull between Ella and Jake feels a little discombobulated, but it might just be cultural differences, as the book is set in Australia; otherwise, I found the book to be a delightfully dramatic read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-07-20 08:03:412022-07-21 07:01:54Taylor’s Law by Jennifer Raines – Review by Wendy Wary
She’s a pop princess and he’s a town mayor. Eric loves Kiki, but dating her comes with a lot of publicity and he’s not sure he can handle the pressure and keep his mayoral job intact. Kiki has only ever seen toxic relationships and people using others for their own gain; while Eric didn’t even know who she was when they met, she can’t help feeling insecure about their relationship and his motives for pursuing her. When the publicity of the couple ramps up and a secret from Kiki’s past surfaces, she questions if things can even work out between them given her own reservations and Eric’s hesitancy to be in the limelight. This is a super sweet romance without all the gory details, reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. It’s full of great friendships, repaired sibling bonds, and a couple who genuinely loves one another. I adored this book, and most of the characters in it!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-07-19 09:20:022022-07-19 14:12:09Let It Be Love (A Mustang Prairie Romance Book 5) by N.D. Jackson – Review by Wendy Wary
I often find fantasy/sci-fi books more difficult to get into while trying to learn other-worldly creatures and scenery, but the author did a great job of seamlessly introducing different species into the story line without taking away from the gist of it. Having not read the first book in this series, I was still able to easily assimilate the characters and worlds depicted.
Mia, having been tortured and sold into slavery as a fighter, struggles to hold onto any hope of escape from a world that’s become kill or be killed. When Castor shows up and says he’s come to rescue her on behalf of her old crew, who were presumed dead, she’s lost and out of trust for others. When he’s tossed into the fighting scene, as well, in hopes of helping Mia find a safe escape, the two learn it’s going to take them both to get out of the mess they’re in.
As a big Hunger Games fan, I found a few themes that were definitely very similar: Mia is forced into fighting for her life and excels at it and then becomes a “favorite” among spectators who can watch live or via feeds from cameras buzzing around; the planet on which she’s held captive is populated by creatures who are known for “enhancements” to their appearance; Mia and Castor are forced into a “contest” on a different planet with rumored beastly creatures that they must survive along with fighting the other competitors to the death. Despite those obvious similarities to the Hunger Games, Castor’s Kiss has a lot more to the story than those themes.
I found the book to be engaging, more action-packed than expected, and quite thrilling to read. Both Mia and Castor are unaware of a soul bond between them until they meet, and all of the fears, insecurities, and trying to decide how they feel about the bond and what it means for them individually and as a couple in the future felt very realistic for anyone experiencing a strong romantic connection with another. The entire book, although obviously fictitious, had a realness to it that speaks volumes for the author’s ability to weave a story that’s believable in completely unbelievable circumstances and situations.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-07-13 10:10:472022-07-13 11:12:54Castor’s Kiss (Soul Bonded in the Stars Book 2) by Tai James – Review by Wendy Wary
Clayton is trying to get his life back on track after a gambling addiction cost him his job and family. He wants to repair things with his ex wife and daughter, but it’s going to be a long road to setting things right. He misses police work, but he’s found some solace in doing repo work for Jimmy, who seems most interested in living his life in Jimmy buffet style. But, Jimmy takes in his crew like family, and Clayton just needs to learn to get out of his own head. When one of his coworkers gets abducted, Clayton joins the crew in finding him and getting to the bottom of what’s really going on. Meanwhile, his damaged relationships with his womanizing father and elusive sister, who seems to find trouble everywhere she goes, throws a more personal wrench into Clayton’s problems. Explosive action, an FBI investigation, and Jimmy’s knack for getting under a local cop’s skin make for page-turning excitement, laughter, and adventure. I loved the characters in this book, their varying quirks and personalities, and truly enjoyed the story line. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-07-07 08:18:352022-07-08 12:59:53Shake Down (First Coast Thriller Book 1) by Armand Rosamilia – Review by Wendy Wary
Holly is the new kid, having moved to a new city with her father, a sheriff, after the passing of her mother. Like every high school student, she’s dreading going to a new school and is hoping to fit in with the right people. Nathan is the classic jock – handsome, fit, popular, and a jerk. When it quickly becomes apparent Holly isn’t going to fit in with the popular crowd, she finds friends that become her tribe. Still slightly intrigued by Nathan, but also recognizing him for the jerk he is, she’s equally drawn to him and disgusted by his behavior. After an incident where he helped embarrass a classmate, she confronts him; then, everything changes. She discovers Nathan has a secret he’s been keeping from nearly everyone around him for the past couple of years. He panics and waits for the fallout of Holly telling everyone, but when she doesn’t, his brother convinces him he should sweeten her up a bit to make sure she doesn’t change her mind. After holding onto his burden for so long alone, Nathan finds Holly to be a caring confidante, and the two start dating. All’s well until another girl who’s been pining for Nathan for years, outs Nathan’s other secret – that he only started talking to Holly to keep her quiet. While the overall story was good, and I found the book to be very informative about Nathan’s secret, I wasn’t as impressed with the cliched high school tropes; I also felt like the main characters could have had a bit more depth beyond Nathan’s secret and Holly’s caring (and borderline codependent) nature towards him.
Remi and his friends are smart and savvy. Having grown up together, they spent their latter high school years designing a video game, which has kept the group tightly knit into adulthood, where they each have found success and money in their careers. But witnessing a tragic event before heading off to college hangs over their heads and continues to threaten their lives and the lives of those they love. Audri is Remi’s best friend’s younger sister. Her knack for creative pursuits in jewelry making doesn’t pay the bills, so she works in marketing while trying to launch her jewelry career. But, a harassing boss is making her life miserable, until she fights back; the problem is her boss is the company owner’s son. Audri has admired Remi since they were younger, but Remi seems to only like detached arrangements with the women he sees, and she’s a romantic. When they reconnect after Remi returns to his roots to acquire a new company, which just happens to be the same one Audri is working at, the two find themselves together more often and sparks ignite. But, neither are sure if it’s a good idea to pursue something together, and both must overcome their pasts if things will ever work out between them. This book has a little bit of everything in it – loads of drama, mystery, romance, tragedy, shocking revelations, and a contrast of family dynamics. It’s a real page-turner and one of those books you’ll stay up too late reading to find out what happens next.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-06-16 06:46:582022-06-16 07:17:06The Mastermind (WaterFyre Rising Book 1) by Nadia Han – Review by Wendy Wary
This book is a rollercoaster of emotions with big dips and breezy, weightless highs that left me with mixed feelings. I really enjoyed reading about Ellawyn and her journey to self-discovery in Quimby Grove. I loved that the author made her a strong, independent character and someone who perseveres through some really heavy life circumstances. The friendship she forms with Benji, and then Beckett and Max, was so sweet and genuine. A definite tear-jerker of a book, and I have a lot of respect for an author that can elicit emotion from his/her readers. I’m probably going to need a couple more days to process it all.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-06-14 08:22:042022-06-14 08:22:04Finding Starlight (Quimby Grove Book 1) by Shannon Nikole – Review by Wendy Wary
Loved reading this tale about Grace, a young woman who learned to fight as a means for survival, and then fighting in an underground circuit as a way to make money to help support her mother and sister after her father dies. The struggle of facing starvation and threat of losing her family due to her mother’s schizophrenia and their impoverished living conditions is all Grace can focus on in her small little world in the Bronx. But, when she gets offered a deal to fight legitimately while representing a freshly launched athletic clothing brand, it affords her an opportunity to finally think beyond how she’s going to pay for medications and care for her mother and when her next meal will be. Weighed by promises and ghosts from the past, Grace has to figure out how to overcome her emotions and fears and decide if fighting professionally is something she wants. With a cast full of colorful and diverse characters, the author did a great job weaving a story about overcoming hardships, facing fears, finding yourself, healing from the past, dedication and perseverance, and building community with those around you. I’m excited to read the next book in the series!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-06-02 07:16:282022-06-02 07:16:28Caging Grace (Grace Series Book 1) by Carsen Lane – Review by Wendy Wary
Having only picked this book up as a standalone, it took a bit to get into and understand the worlds and creatures, but the author did a fabulous job describing everything for readers who haven’t already gotten into the series.
This book was an epic journey through worlds with creatures who struggle to survive an impending apocalypse. Dahlia and her crew catch up as they fight off invaders on Earth, try to piece together the puzzle of how to save all worlds from collapse, and face numerous battles with those who stand in the way. When Oren starts the apocalypse and then paints himself as earth’s savior while simultaneously working to alter or kill off creatures and humans for his own plans of survival, Dahlia and her team face seemingly impossible odds to stop him and repair the damaged veil that keeps all worlds separated. To make matters worse, she still has to figure out how to actually repair the veil and stop the blight that continues to feed on all of the destruction and violence.
This was a wonderful, original story with great characters and excellent world building.
Elena, with the help of some friends, faked her death to escape a psychopath in the Russian Mafia who was hellbent on ending her life. Having found some peace and a mostly humdrum existence in New Jersey for the past several years, her instincts kick in when Marco, her longtime crush turned somewhat enemy, shows up to take her back to Chicago. She’s not sure if she can trust him, but with the Russians on to her whereabouts, she doesn’t have much of a choice.
Marco, despite his own longtime crush on Elena, acted out against her during their teen years because she was already promised to another through an arranged marriage. With that contract null and void, and years having passed since she disappeared from his life, he’s more than willing to take on her safety as his own personal responsibility. The trouble will be convincing her that she can actually trust him and trying to win her over to make up for the attitude he gave her during their youth. In the meantime, Elena struggles to leave behind her fight or flight instincts and fall into the trust of her adopted mafia family to accept that she has just as much a right to be there as anyone else in the family.
If you’ve read previous books in the series, this book fills in more details about the story behind Elena’s disappearance, secrets from her past, her place in the Five Families, and her future. Don’t worry, though, if you haven’t previously read any of the other books in the series; you can literally start with any one of them and enjoy it as a standalone. But, be prepared to be sucked into the mafia world and wrapped up in the many characters that make up the series. One thing I love about the series is how you get introduced to most of the characters from the beginning, but then get to watch different stories from each of their lives unfold as you get further into the series. I’m totally hooked, and this addition is no exception.
Having read all the previous books in the series, it was nice to finally get a bit more of the story on Trey, the mafia doctor. I felt like this one was a little different than the previous books, like a step back from the mafia side of things compared to previous books, although perhaps it’s more fitting since Trey was mostly in the background up until this point. This book also seemed to have less overall drama and danger, but still plenty of intrigue and romance.
When Hailey gets kidnapped in front of her stepfather, he seeks help from Trey in the hopes of not involving the police. As Trey discovers the truth behind Hailey’s kidnapping, he decides to rescue her and keep her close for her own safety and his own budding feelings for her. Hailey’s all too happy to finally get some time with someone she’s crushed on for the past year, and she easily fits in with the other mafia wives and sisters.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-05-13 07:21:512022-05-13 07:21:51Collateral Damage (Mafia Elite Series Book 6) by Amy McKinley – Review by Wendy Wary
What a truly wonderful period fiction piece! This coming of age book about Margaret Rose Locke hits right in the feels as the reader is brought through the struggles of poverty, and living in a time when women still held little to no rights or freedoms apart from the men in their lives, times of war when nearly everyone was touched by loss, when divorcees were considered social pariahs, and when being a single mom came with more hardships than necessary.
As Margaret perseveres through it all and proves her resilience and drive to provide for her children, the reader is immersed in a different time in America with the promise of dreams and where reality oftentimes didn’t live up to expectations. Unlucky in love, ambitious to have a better life, fighting for her independence, Margaret is a representation of women who struggled against society’s expectations with the hopes of having a better life than the one they were born into. There’s also a strong theme of family bonds that are sometimes both a curse and a blessing.
I absolutely loved this book, and especially enjoyed the personal note at the end describing how the book loosely tied to the author’s own life. It reminded me of stories my own grandma shared with me as her family weathered poverty following the Great Depression and how she bucked her parents’ expectations for her to simply become a housewife when she was driven to have her own career at a time when there were very limited opportunities for women. These types of women are our role models, heroines, and pioneers of the time.
Desperate for money, Ten decides to try to win some quick cash in an underground fighting circuit, much to the dismay of his best friend and roommate, Juliet. But, when Ten realizes he’s out of his depth against a ruthless opponent, Jonathan Gage steps in to give him some advice that wins him the fight, but brings on a new set of problems. The win ends up coming too little, too late, anyway, as the roommates arrive home to find they’ve already been evicted from their apartment.
Gage, who now feels responsible for his advice bringing the pair into danger, offers up his home as a place to stay until they can get the whole mess sorted out. Sexual tension mounts among the three, with Ten and Juliet obviously interested in one another, but too timid to ruin their friendship; the pair seem to also have an interest in Gage, which is also reciprocated. Lots of steamy scenes happen between Gage and Juliet, Gage and Ten, and finally Ten and Juliet, culminating with all three having a shared experience.
In the meantime, Gage is coaching Ten for a fight that may be a set-up, and Juliet is struggling with her internal feelings for both men and trying to decide what she actually wants. With all of their safety being in jeopardy, Gage reaches out to his old friends to help keep his new friends safe while he works out a plan to hopefully keep them all out of trouble for good.
This is the first book of the series I’ve read, and it works perfectly fine as a standalone, but you can tell there’s more of a backstory to Gage and his old friends that would be revealed by reading the earlier books. Overall, I found the book to be a great mix of tension, build-up, and sizzle, with a sprinkling of danger and mystery.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-05-07 07:47:212022-05-07 07:47:21The Fighter (An Underground Bad Boys Romance Book 3) by India Kells – Review by Wendy Wary
As people around the world start discovering they have extra abilities, one place has designated a space for them to seek refuge from growing tensions among those who don’t possess such abilities. Even though some are as minor as the ability to change their eye color, anyone discovered with such abilities is beginning to find themselves ostracized from their peers, coworkers, and even families. PHAE is a safe haven for those who have abilities, and the reader is introduced to characters from around the world with unhidden talents as they arrive at PHAE headquarters in Ireland.
Filled with lore from different cultures, this book takes the reader through a fantasy tale that doesn’t seem so far fetched, as PHAE starts to become the target of international organizations that want those with abilities to be registered and segregated, or worse. Even as those with abilities are still trying to figure out how and why they possess such talents, and the extent of their abilities, they must fight for survival against a myriad of attacks from those who would rather see them eradicated.
I loved the storytelling and the character development in this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series to see how everything unfolds and what other talents emerge.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-05-03 07:30:452022-05-03 07:30:45Taming of the Few (Guardians of the PHAE Book 1) by Rowan Dillon – Review by Wendy Wary
Apollo, the half-deity, struggles to let go of his humanity to take the throne among his father, Zeus, and his godly siblings, at Olympus. He has contempt for most of the gods, feeling they misuse their power and lack compassion for the plight of humans. While Zeus loses patience with Apollo, who has dragged his feet on ascending to become the god Zeus expects him to be, he gives him little choice in the matter by threatening those he loves if he doesn’t ascend within the year; in the meantime, he expects him to mentor under Prince Hyacinth, whom Zeus believes to be the best example for Apollo to learn obedience from one’s father.
Apollo sets out with his sister, Artemis, for the kingdom whose prince Apollo finds to be arrogant and conceited. Hyacinth seems to be of the same opinion of Apollo, but is careful in handling the demi-god in an attempt to protect his kingdom from the wrath of the gods. At first, Apollo spends most of his time avoiding the prince and holding to his initial opinions of him, but finally relents after his sister convinces him to make an effort. Both Apollo and Hyacinth are surprised to learn that they aren’t all that different after all, and that they each have more depth than the arrogant outer appearance they both veil themselves with.
I found the book captivating, adventurous, and easy to read. I actually completed the book in one day because I found it so hard to put down. The characters were easy to fall in love with, and even the hardships in the story were delicately navigated and woven into a story that had beautiful flow and sensibility. I’m excited to see how the rest of the story unfolds in the series and what new characters might be introduced.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-04-28 07:26:222022-04-28 07:26:22A Veil of Gods and Kings (Apollo Ascending Book 1) by Nicole Bailey – Review by Wendy Wary
A sleepy Nebraskan town with a top secret lab that holds federal contracts and a mysterious history tied to the river it’s situated upon sets the backdrop to this haunting tale. Josie seems to face impossible odds as she battles to protect her kids from her abusive drug dealing doctor of a soon-to-be ex husband, tries to unravel the family secrets that only she seems to not be in on, uncover the truth of the mysterious deaths surrounding her, and battle her own mental struggles as she navigates through a pandemic that no one else seems to seriously consider. This is a thrilling, dark, twisty tale that wasn’t as predictable as I first suspected. The author creates just the right amount of tension and suspense through to the shocking end.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-04-07 07:21:532022-04-07 07:21:53The Last Cabin Girl (Detective Josie Thompson Series) by Tom Swyers – Review by Wendy Wary
Ruby is a quirky actress who trades whimsical alternatives for curse words, sings song lyrics in her head – and sometimes aloud – as they apply to her everyday life, and struggles to figure out who she truly is among all the characters she takes on. When she lands a chorus part in her traveling theater company’s latest production, she’s disappointed, a little bored, and still working to fit in with her cast mates, even while coping with the loss of her mentor only a few short months ago. When she stumbles upon the body of a new cast mate while jogging in a park at their first tour stop in Asheville, she decides to spend her free time helping to get to the bottom of the mystery of why anyone would want to murder the kind older woman and who is behind it all. Forging a friendship with another cast mate, Nova, the pair clumsily make their way through an investigation that isn’t always as clandestine, nor safe, as they expect. It’s an entertaining and offbeat whodunit.
We can’t choose the family we’re born into, and Regan knows just how true that is. She’s used to taking care of herself and helping her addict mother while staying determined to be the first in her family to graduate high school and make something of herself – whatever that is – outside of south Boston.
Jeremy deals with his own family drama while trying to convince his father that he’s ready to take over the company by successfully finishing three new gentrification projects in Boston, a new territory for the business that’s already cornered the markets in LA, Chicago, and New York City.
A chance meeting between two people who live in totally different worlds sparks a relationship that faces a lot of outside turmoil and some internal struggles. Can love be enough to see them through? Faced with two terrible choices that either rip apart two families or cause two broken hearts, Regan must decide if her future will ever be what she has always hoped for.
The author did a great job with relatable and lovable characters, delving into familial matters that somehow still make even the “bad apples” endearing, for the most part. The romance follows the typical arc of couple meets and faces struggle, but the story is one that’s easy to follow and has you rooting for a good outcome with plenty of steamy scenes to boot.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Wendy Waryhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngWendy Wary2022-04-02 07:45:442022-04-02 07:45:44Until There Was You by G. Colgrove – Review by Wendy Wary
I liked how this book started off in a different direction than previous books in the series.
Summer takes a temp job in California after escaping a near-death experience in Georgia. Finding out that her best friend didn’t make it out of the clutch of a New York mobster had Summer acting out of character and hooking up with a hot guy she met at a bar for a one-night stand. Waking up in his posh hotel room, and running late to work, she rushes in to the office only to find out the guy she spent the night with is her new boss. Thanks to her old boss throwing shade her way as he was escorted out, Summer finds that Luc, her one-night stand, now thinks she’s a spy who has worked with his enemies to steal his money.
When a Chicago mob boss shows up at the office and corners Luc while he’s still interrogating Summer, Luc brings her along to meet up with the five families in Chicago until he can figure out how she’s connected to his bank accounts being drained. Meanwhile, Summer fears her escape from Georgia may not have been as seamless as she thought, and she might actually be the reason for the Chicago mafia showing up. Hiding her own secrets, and trying to convince Luc she has nothing to do with his disappearing funds proves to be a challenge as both Luc and Summer get caught up in mafia business in Chicago.
Once again, the characters in this series make it hard not to fall in love with the families who run organized crime in Chicago. It’s a brutal life full of danger, and yet, the bonds with the friends and family in the crime syndicate are strong, loving, and protective. This book delivers, as the previous stories in the series have, on drama, intrigue, mystery, and romance.
I read this as a standalone, and life really got in the way of me engulfing this book like I really wanted to. Finished it in about a day and half, despite my objections to other obligations that kept me from reading it straight through. Seriously had a difficult time putting this one down.
Hope has a gift for connecting telepathically with people, usually for her to help them in some way, and since she doesn’t choose the connections, it’s not initially apparent why she’s connected with Russ. After a couple of months, she’s still struggling to figure it out while Russ starts to get annoyed with her ability to read his every thought and her questioning of things he’d rather leave in the past while revealing very little about about herself to him.
Along with the ability to connect telepathically, Hope is confused as to why she’s suddenly developed a new ability to see through Russ’s eyes. Add in her unclear premonitions and the stresses of a life lived in secrecy, and Hope becomes overwhelmed when her own safety is threatened. All she knows is her connection with Russ is different and she finds herself more invested in his life than she should be.
When life and death hang in the balance, the pair figure out that Russ might just be the answer to helping Hope leave her life of hiding behind once and for all, if she can learn to trust him with her secrets. Lots of ghosts and other paranormal activity, and close friendships, help the pair navigate through their lives as they face peril.
I was thoroughly engrossed in this novel and the original story line full of mystery and intrigue. Great writing, wonderful characters, and lots of drama. It’s taken me a couple of days to decompress from this one.
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Cooked: The Chef Blows Her Lid by Cari Schaeffer
