Review: Solomon's Surrender

Solomon's Surrender by Michelle Dare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Solomon may seem like he's hard to deal with, but he's loyal to those he cares about. The only thing that doesn't seem to be a possibility for him is finding his mate. He's convinced he's meant to be the playboy he pretends to be until he meets Lilah. Lilah is dead set against finding her mate. She'd prefer to be alone over the possibility of anybody leaving her. To keep from finding her mate, she refuses to touch anybody.

I've been waiting for this book! While it didn't fully meet my expectations, it was amazing. I loved it. I read it too quickly! That's okay. I plan to read all the books in this series over and over again! It's an amazing series. While it didn't have to be read in order at all, I'm glad I did anyway. I'm even looking forward to the next book as well.

Solomon is one of my favorite characters in this series. He's just witty and charming. He's definitely on my book boyfriend list. He's like Eric from True Blood but not as brutal. I really liked Lilah too. She had a lot of pain, but she was willing to be upfront and honest about everything. That's not something you see a lot in books. They usually just assume what the others are thinking or feeling about them.

Troy Duran and Sarah L. Colton were as amazing narrating this book as they were the rest of the series. I absolutely adore their style. I will definitely look for other audiobooks that they narrate to see if it's biased from the series or if I genuinely like their style. I'm leaning more towards the style honestly.

I fully recommend this series. It's been very fun to read and I'm looking forward to the fifth book. I believe it comes out in a couple of weeks, but I can't be sure. Hopefully, it won't be too long before there's an audiobook version of it. I've listened to the first four. I may as well complete the tradition.

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Review: Walker Wildcats Year 1: Age 10 Box set: Episodes 1-6

Walker Wildcats Year 1: Age 10 Box set: Episodes 1-6 by Tamara Hart Heiner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cassandra is nervous. She just moved to a new place. She'll be starting a new school. She knows nobody. She's pleasantly surprised to find how quickly she fits in and makes friends. She also joins a lot of activities that she really enjoys.

I really enjoyed this story. I found it very adorable. I also found it very realistic. There were a few things that I didn't really care for in the book, but they actually happen. Not writing about them doesn't exactly make them go away. I can say that this book has helped me NOT miss some of the dramas we experienced in school.

I think all the characters were adorable. There were a few snotty brats in the book, but they exist in the real world too. Expecting them to be punished for their actions when they don't, in reality, would be a stretch as well. I did really see the child me in Cassandra. Well, in some ways.

This book was narrated by Hysha Nesmith. I do not have a problem with her narration. I felt like she could have been reading a story to children in schools or libraries. She knew her audience and she nailed it. There were just a few minor issues I had with it. The noise at the beginning of each chapter was a little cringy, but minor. She also has parts of the book where she gets a little choppy.

This book combines all the volumes of Year 1 into one book. I think it was pretty clever. I know I'm not a child, but I enjoyed this book. I may not have children now but I may one day and it will be nice to have a list of books I'd willingly read to them already!

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Review: The Golden City Captives

The Golden City Captives by Julie C. Gilbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Keio wants nothing more than to see the Golden City. That dream quickly turns into a nightmare when he and a friend are taken captive and sold to an aristocrat.

I really enjoyed this book. it's very short and to the point. It's a quick and easy read. I do kind of wish it was drawn out a bit more, but that's just me being picky.

The story was a bit too short to really form a connection with the characters. However, I believe that Sarah was pretty amazing. I'd of liked to have gotten to know the characters a bit more so I can make a sound judgment on any of them.

Reuben Corbette did a pretty amazing job narrating this book. He added to the enhancements of feeling like you're actually there. I can't explain it better than that. I also happen to adore his proper voice.

I really enjoyed this story. I just wish it had been a tad bit longer. I feel like there should have been things that were just drawn out a bit more. I feel like it would have helped the connection with the characters and the story very much.

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Review: Adana the Earth Dragon

Adana the Earth Dragon by Debbie Manber Kupfer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adana doesn't really feel like she fits in anywhere. She feels like she doesn't belong and has no real purpose. That is until the giant shows up and scares the rest of the dragons.

This book was just too adorable! I thought it was very sweet and very easy to read. It helped that I had a very soothing narrator, Fiona Thraille, reading it to me. Her voice was very proper.

I really adored the pictures! I picked up a copy to read along. I was just so impressed. They were simple without being too simple. It's hard to explain it better than that.

This is a great children's book to read to any child, including fur babies. It kind of reminded me a bit of Rudolph in a way.

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Review: Step into Magic

Step into Magic by Day Leitao
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Karina's world is changed forever when she finds a pair of shoes at a yard sale. They turn out to be magical shoes that are evil. She finds herself in another world looking to destroy the shoes before people can find her and take the shoes to use for evil.

I found this story to be quite adorable. The characters were really sweet. The storyline flowed very nicely. It was well put together. I think many teenagers and young adults will really enjoy the story. It's very age-appropriate.

I'm not going to give my opinion on whether or not I could connect with the characters. Half of the characters in the story were children. I feel that it would be weird for me to say. I do think that they were all pretty amazing characters.

I really don't hate the narration that Marlies Dubois did. I just think that she could have narrated it a bit better. She made most of the characters sound really whiny and airheaded. I'm sure that was not the intention. I'm also sure that I'm just being really picky. It did give me a headache though. I'm not going to lie.

I really enjoyed this story quite a lot. I'm considering going back and reading it without narration. I think that the narrator's voice pitch kind of obscured the story for me just a little. As I said though, I don't think she did a bad job. It was just a bit too high pitch for me.

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Review: Hunting Prince Dracula

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Audrey Rose is heading to Romania to learn in one of the best forensic schools in the world. Her uncle and Thomas pull some strings to get in there. On the way to the school, somebody gets murdered. And Audrey Rose finds herself sucked into the middle of another murder scandal. If that's not enough, she learns there are only two spots available in the school and she'll have to compete to get one of them.

I really enjoyed this book. I was nervous that this would be one of those series that really should never have been a series. I'm glad that I was wrong. It was just as amazing as the first. It may have even been better than the first. There were parts that may have been a little too glossed over. I'm not sure if that's just my opinion or if it's an actual thing. I'm nervous to read other reviews to find out for sure.

I really feel like I would be Audrey Rose if I was in the story. She's just amazing. She's tough and loyal. She speaks her mind completely. She is not ashamed to be who she is. She's exactly what I want to be. Then we have Thomas. I have read several quotes from this book to people close to me involving him. He's just too much! He reminds me of Adrian from Vampire Academy or Logan Huntsberger from Gilmore Girls. He's definitely a great character. I loved getting to meet his sister as well.

This series is quickly becoming one of my favorite series of all time. I have really enjoyed it and can't wait to get into the rest of the series. I can't wait to see what other chaos that Audrey Rose and Thomas find themselves in. I'm also so enamored with the love between the two of them. It's so inspirational!



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Review: The Secret Commonwealth

The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many years have passed since Lyra went on her journey through many worlds. Her and Pantalimon have become estranged for some reason. She has grown into a lovely young woman. She is very content with her life. Until everything she knows is gone and life as she knows it is thrown upside down.

It is with a heavy heart that I say I find myself disappointed with this book. I know that sounds insane as I'm giving this a full star rating. The thing is, it's a very well written story. I enjoyed it very much. The disappointment is because I am so sad about what's going on with Lyra and Pantalimon. These are two of my favorite characters of all time. I am sad that things aren't going well for them.

I fell in love with Lyra and Pantalimon in the His Dark Materials trilogy. They were feisty and strong-willed. It was beautiful. The trilogy became one of my favorite trilogies of all time. We meet Malcolm in the first book of this trilogy. He's an amazing man as well. He was an amazing child too. I would have liked to see more of him in this book.

This ended on a cliffhanger. I was so frustrated by that. Especially since I don't know when the final book of the trilogy will be released. I mean, to be fair, this book was released last month. So I knew I'd have to wait. I was just hoping I wouldn't have to be cliff hung as I waited. I would really love an hour of this author's time. His writing is incredible!

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Review: Wendigo Fever

Wendigo Fever by Kevin Hardman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A warden's job is to protect people from the monsters that lurk in the shadows. Errol is thrown into the position when his brother mysteriously disappears during a normal visit. Errol juggles helping the people they are tasked to help and finding his brother. He also finds that he's being hunted.

I really enjoyed this book. It was very short and full of adventure. I listened to it in one sitting pretty much. I found myself absorbed into the story from the very beginning and I fully intend to read the rest of the series when I'm able to. It will definitely be worth it.

There weren't really many characters in this story, but the two that were in it were pretty relatable. Errol is a normal sixteen-year-old kid who is self-absorbed and wants a different future for himself than what his family wants. Then we have the feisty lady who decides to go with him after he helps her family get rid of a monster. I'm sad that I forget her name. She definitely had a lot of fight in her.

Mikael Naramore, the narrator, did a pretty fantastic job narrating the story. I normally cringe at male narrators trying female dialogue. Mostly because they really overdo it. They make females sound really weird. I was impressed with his female voices though. It was a very refreshing change. I'll definitely listen to more books he narrates.

I really enjoyed this story very much. It was a very short read that I managed to get done in one sitting while catching up on reviews. I was kind of surprised that the time passed honestly. I was very absorbed in the story.

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Review: The Dreamers

The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Life is normal and full of life in a small town in Southern California. That changes drastically when a college student falls asleep and stays asleep. Nobody really thinks anything of it at first until other students start falling into this deep unresponsive sleep as well. The town gets shut down as more and more people fall into this weird sleep.

I really loved the idea of this book. It was really enticing. The thought in itself was what kept me reading honestly. It took me well over a month to fully get through the book. Mainly because I set it down quite a few times. I wanted to like it. I really did. The execution just wasn't all that great. I feel like if it had a rewrite and wasn't written so bland that it might work. I don't hate it. I just think it needs work. I also wish some things had been explained better.

I can't really say anything about the characters at all. There were just way too many to keep track of. I almost wish I'd kept notes. I had to go back a few times to figure out who was who. The only character that I felt even a little connected to was Mei. I am like her in so many ways. There was also a pre-teen child I thought was pretty sweet too. I don't remember her name.

I did like this book. I really loved the idea. It just didn't really hit expectations for me. There was a lot left to be desired. There were many questions that were just left unanswered to me. This book really had a lot of potential in my eyes. It might still have a chance. Who knows? This author wrote another book called Age Of Miracles. That book was amazing to me. It's a book that's stuck with me. I think about it quite often. I think that's why I'm a little disappointed with this one.

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Review: Master of His Fate

Master of His Fate by Barbara Taylor Bradford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

James has the dedication and drive to change things as society knows it. Even though he was born into the poorer side of society, he's got the drive to become as successful as any of the rich. With his grandparents' help, that dream becomes a reality for him. Alexis is driven to be successful in her father's company. She refuses to marry and let a man take over and control her life. She's afraid if she marries that the husband will take over everything and not let her work at all.

I really enjoyed this book at all. I was confused in the beginning because I didn't fully get why there was talk about two different people who weren't even in the same circles of society. I had assumed that eventually, they must cross paths. That's the only way that the story would make much sense to me. Either way, I really did enjoy reading about both of them and the people in their lives. I can say that I feel like there were a few instances where historical accuracy was pushed just a tad. This thing doesn't really bother me personally. I recognize that I'm reading a fictional book. It may bother some people though.

I really adored James. He was strong. He was compassionate. He cared about those he was around and he was loyal. If somebody wronged him, he wanted to make sure they got fair treatment. It's really admirable. Alexis was really amazing as well. I honestly feel that I would be just like her in that time era. She's a strong woman who is passionate about her career. It's amazing!

Other than the issues I highlighted, I thought this was a pretty amazing book. I am looking forward to reading book two in May. I can't wait to see what happens from here. I don't want to get too much into it. I'd hate to spoil the book to anybody who will be reading in the future. It's a very light and enjoyable read.



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Review: Queenie

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Queenie's world has been turned upside down. Her boyfriend of three years has kicked her out. Her performance at work has majorly declined. Her friends are starting to lose their patience with her. With everything hitting her at once, she goes into a downward spiral.

I didn't really fully get into this book until about the halfway point. It was kind of frustrating. I felt such a disconnect from the story. I can honestly say that I did love the openness of the actual current events in the book. I'm glad I stuck with it though. It wound up ending very beautifully. It was impossible not to be thrilled for Queenie.

During the first half of the book, I really couldn't connect with Queenie at all. I didn't really care for any of the character's attitudes. They really weren't helping Queenie at all. The only one I liked from the very beginning was Queenie's friend from school. I don't want to misspell it. She was real and she was bold. I loved it! Once I realized that Queenie is disconnected because she's disconnected from herself, it helped me like and understand her better. I even started to related to her.

I've been wanting to read this book for a very long time. I was very excited when our book club decided to read it for this month's book. We'll be discussing the book this Sunday. I'm looking forward to it. For those who can't really get into the book, in the beginning, I fully encourage them to keep reading. It's worth it in the end. Especially for those readers who love a great HEA!

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Review: The Risk

The Risk by Callie Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Harlow has been beside herself with grief. Somebody has murdered a girl she didn't get along with at her school and framed her mother. While trying to find the truth, she stumbles upon the real killer, putting herself and her four boys in danger. She must decide whether to continue trying to free her mother or let it go and keep her and those she loves alive.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the entire trilogy. I didn't love it at first, but I stuck with it and wound up falling in love about halfway through the first book. I'm so glad I stuck with it. It got so much better. I loved how everything came together very neatly in the end. But the author definitely kept me on edge to up to the very end!

I really loved how connected I felt to Harlow. She is just this strong-willed and passionate young lady. She knew what she wanted, but she also cared about what others wanted as well. She tried to stay strong, but she was able to admit her weaknesses. Her four boys were pretty amazing too. Once one got through their exterior walls. I'm sad that I'm done with the trilogy and won't' read about these again. I'd of loved to see more with her mom and her best friend.

I was very impressed with Amanda Stribling. Not only in this book but the entire trilogy. It was like she pulled the emotions from the characters out and claimed them as her own. Especially where Harlow was concerned. I loved it. It's a quality that I love seeing with narrators. I love the life that narrators can bring to books. It helps me enjoy reading when I can't actually read.

I really did love this book. I loved the entire trilogy. I recommend reading the entire trilogy in order. It is definitely not one that can be read out of order. I also want to warn that it will catch a reader in their feels. There were parts in the book where my heart was beating so hard! I can't even begin to explain it. I was as afraid as Harlow. I'm sure of it!


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Review: Execution

Execution by Lucia Franco
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**IMPORTANT NOTE** This book and other books in this series have been put under fire for some of the plot in the book that can easily be taken out of context. I do not condone reading anything that would talk of things that go against my morals. I saw this book in a different perspective than those who are against this book. I am aware that everybody will interpret things differently, but I do feel that if it was meant the way that people are taking it, neither the author or the narrator would be okay with publishing it.

Adrianna is struggling to improve her performance and become the best gymnast she can possibly be. She will stop at nothing to get to the elite. She pushes her body and her health to the absolute max by practicing 50 or more hours a week. With that and the horrible attraction between her and the coach, her stress levels are through the roof.

I really did like this story a lot. A lot of people are very uncomfortable because it would seem that this book violates a lot of terms that are set in publishing. I personally see it as a message about how impressionable our youth is and how somebody can get into their heads easily. I could be wrong. I don't know what the author is trying to say. I can only stand by my interpretation of it. I was also focused more on the gymnastics part of the story than the romance as well. It just blows my mind how much these young women push themselves to be the absolute best.

I can't say I really care for any of the characters at all. With the exception of Hayden. He seems like a very genuinely great guy who truly cares for Adrianna. I wanted to like Adrianna. I wanted to connect with her. And there are times that I almost do. Especially during the times she's with Hayden. She's so obviously a victim in need of help and instead, she's just getting hate and judgment. It's just she gets so selfish and only her own problems matter. It kind of takes a lot of the connection away.

My favorite narrator of all time, Sarah Puckett, narrated this book. She also narrated the first book as well. I have listened to many of her books. I feel she has a strong moral. I don't know her personally, but I think if the book was as bad as it's being portrayed as, she wouldn't have narrated it. I feel like she would have honestly turned it down. This is just my opinion. I can't say for sure.

I'm not sure why this book has so much heat other than the fact that the message is being widely misinterpreted. There are multiple sides to everything. It could very well be that I, myself, am misinterpreting it. Who knows? What I see is a story spotlighting a victim who's struggling with many demons and trying to be the best she can be. I hope people will at least consider giving this book a chance despite everything.

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Review: Stripping the Sub

Stripping the Sub by Golden Angel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ellie has a lot of issues she needs to work through. Including a horrible event that happened in the past. She isn't looking for a relationship with anybody. So when Michael walks back into her life, she's thrown through a loop. She tries to keep herself from him, but after a year, she finally gives in.

I really adored this book. I have to be honest, it does cover a very heavy topic. Something that many women and even some men face or experience in their own way. It was inspiring and sexy. I didn't think those two could meet and still make an amazing book. I'm very impressed. I can't wait to read the rest of this series. It is also very hilarious! I mean... Sorry Olivia!

Ellie is such an amazingly strong character. She's been through so much and it shows. She's impressed every day by the support network she seems to have found. Michael is pretty amazing as well. He's the absolute perfect book boyfriend. He's everything most women would want in a man.

I really enjoyed listening to Rosie. She was pretty amazing. She added so much more to an already amazing story. Not that it needed much added to make it amazing, but still. I'm pretty sure that she narrated the other book I listened to as well, but I'm not fully sure. Either way, I'd be fully willing to listen to other books she narrates.

I really did enjoy this book. It was very inspirational and unique. It was also full of heat and desire. I do have to be honest and state that there is a topic in here that can be triggering to some. It still makes a very beautiful read. I loved it.

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Review: Breaking the Chain

Breaking the Chain by Golden Angel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Both Jared and Leigh have been burned by long term relationships where they weren't really valued and wanted. Even though they were both afraid to trust, they found comfort and healing in each other. It was easy for them both to be with the other, which shocked them both. Leigh decides to risk everything to ask him to discipline her to keep to her diet so that she can manage her blood sugar levels.

This is not the first Golden Angel novel I read. It won't be the last either. Normally books like this make me feel extremely uncomfortable. Her books don't. I'll be honest and state that I haven't really read a lot of books in this genre and the few I did weren't really that great. So, it's possible that I might like them. Who knows? All I know is that I don't feel uncomfortable reading books from Golden Angel. This book was really nice. The only problem I had was that there were a few scenes here and there that I felt got rushed over a bit too much.

Leigh is a very wholesome girl. She knows her flaw and she does what it takes to fix it. I like that about her. I can also really relate to the high blood sugar problem. In more ways than I care to admit. I really liked Jared a lot. He's very upfront and honest. He's not some broody and mysterious person who gets mad when people question him. It was a refreshing change. I can't really give an honest assessment of the background characters, but they all seemed fun and friendly and full of life! I'll have to go back and read some of the books in this series to know some of them better.

I have never heard any books by Rose Lane before. She's pretty talented. I really enjoyed listening to this book. She definitely helped elevate it in a lot of ways. I was impressed. I hope that she's the narrator for the rest of this series. She definitely nailed it.

I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. I had a feeling I would, though. Golden Angel has a talent. She knows how to make things exciting to read. I can see why people begged her to put her work into publishing. I'm glad they did too. The world would be without her literature if they didn't.

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Review: Sweep of the Blade

Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After being betrayed by her husband and cast aside like garbage by a society she helped, Maude finds it hard to trust any vampires. She seeks her sister's help. There she meets a vampire named Arland. Despite herself, she falls for him and his charms.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I can't lie though, I enjoyed the first three books with DIna a bit more. This book was pretty great on its own though. I loved that the first chapter kind of summarizes the last book very neatly. That was pleasantly unique for me. I was frazzled by the ending. I can't wait until the fifth book is released!

Maude is a very loyal and fierce woman. I really do like her. She isn't like her sister Dina at all. She's sarcastic, but it's just different. Arland is something else. If I had to compare him, I'd say he was a combination of Eric and Bill from True Blood. He's formal and polite, but he'll kill without mercy.

The narrator for this book is Natalie Naudus. A different narrator than the first three books. She did a really great job. Personally, I found it fitting they used a different narrator since it's a different point of view than the first three books. Not sure if I've listened to anything else by this narrator, but I would consider it.

I'm not sure why they did a point of view switch halfway through the series, but it's okay. I really liked this book. I'm glad I got to see a bit more of Maude. I missed DIna in this book. I won't lie. But I'm glad that I got to see a different world outside of the inn. I can't wait for book five! I wish it was in my hands now! I believe it releases mid-January!

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Review: Twisted Twenty-Six

Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Grandma Maazur has gotten married! Sadly, her husband has a heart attack and dies during their honeymoon. Her husband? A famous mobster in the Burg. He was also the holder of keys that held a fortune. Now that he's gone, everybody assumes that Grandma has the keys, and everybody wants the keys and the fortune for themselves!

I really enjoyed this book quite a lot. It feels like the book had a bit of a final air about it. I'm not sure if this series has come to a close or if I'm just reading too much into it. The book starts the exact same way the first book did. I found that a little ironic. It may have also sparked my suspicion of this being the final book. I want to make it very clear that I'm okay with it either way. I'd like to see the series continue, but all good things must come to an end eventually.

I was floored by the change in behaviorisms with Stephanie's mom and grandma. They weren't good or bad changes. They just acted differently. Stephanie acted a bit differently as well. One of the things that gets under my skin is it seems every other book she's contemplating leaving her job. I guess I shouldn't be so harsh. We all have those moments with our line of work. It just gets frustratingly repetitive.

This was a pretty intense and amazing book. Just like the rest of the series. I really enjoyed it a lot. I can't believe I've finally caught up with this series. I didn't really think I would ever catch up in all honesty. I thought I'd constantly just try to figure out where I left off. I'm glad I reread before picking back up on the series. It really did me a lot of good. So now, I'm either saying goodbye to this series or waiting for the next book.

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Review: Rush: A Black Hearts Still Beat Prequel

Rush: A Black Hearts Still Beat Prequel by L.A. Cotton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eva is shocked to find out that her best friend, Molly, signed her up for a famous country music competition. She doesn't expect to win the competition, but she decides to compete anyway. She wants to try to win the competition so she can use the winnings to help her parents pay off the debt they got in due to her battle with cancer. She finds more than she bargained for at the competition.

I really adored this book. It was just so adorable. It was also humble and beautifully sad. I would give it a hundred stars if I could. There were parts I felt got a bit rushed over, but I think that's just my personal preference. It didn't really hurt the book. I am excited to read the rest of the series. I also want to say how much I LOVE the cover! it's just so catchy!

I really adored Eva. She's a well rounded and mature teenager. Her best friend, Molly, is a sweetheart too. Yes, she loves fun and loves partying, but she's so loyal to Eva. It's refreshing. I was on the fence about the two rock stars. There was one character I didn't like, but I would like to have seen more of him in the story. There was conflict there, but it seemed to fall a little flat. At least it did to me.

Sarah Puckett narrated this book. I can't gush over this narrator enough. I plan to become a narrator myself one day. If I'm half the narrator she is, I will be blessed. She's just so talented. She has a way to bring the story more to life than it already is. She can suck any reader into the emotions of the story and make them feel like the story is surrounding them and enveloping them like a thick blanket. She's absolutely amazing!

This story is a prequel to an upcoming Black Hearts series. I really loved it. I think it's a great start to a series. I can't wait to get into the rest of the series to see if they are as amazing as I feel they are. I've read a few other books by this author. I'm pretty sure they will be and that much more!

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Review: Ryan

Ryan by A.S. Kelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ryan is betrayed by the love of his life and his brother. He swears off love. He also decides not to get close to anybody. He chooses to be an asshole over letting anybody else in. That is until he meets Christina. Christina is a single mom who owns a cafe. She is passionate about what she does and loves the people in her life.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I love when books have characters do a complete personality change. It makes the book worth reading. If I said this was a favorite book or that I'd be rereading it, that would be a lie. There wasn't really anything I didn't like about it too much. Well, nothing that was worth ranting over.

The characters are where I really wasn't fully in love with. I didn't really have any connection with either of the two main leads. It got a bit frustrating hearing them sometimes. I mean I guess that's the point sometimes. You have to hate them in order to love their transformation. I also recognize that this is a personal opinion and not an actual reflection on the characters.

I really liked the narrators. Their voices were just so authentic to the narrative. I wish I could remember their names to add to the review. I believe they did the narration from the first book as well. I was kind of intrigued by a word they kept adding an e at the end of. I'd never heard it with that pronunciation before. It was a nice change though.

I really did enjoy this book a lot. It wasn't as great as the first book, but it was great in its own way. I can't say I will add it to my favorites list, but I can't say I hated it either. I do hope that there are more books in the series. I am curious to see how the story ends. It didn't really end in a way that provokes a continuation, but who knows?

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Review: One Fell Sweep

One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dina has been doing everything she can to maintain her inn and its guests. She wants nothing more than to increase the rating so that she gets more guests. Her parents disappeared without a trace years ago and she feels that the more people she comes across, the more chance she has to find them. Everything is going according to plan until her sister reaches out to her for help.

I really did enjoy this book. I loved the first two books as well. This one was more emotionally involving than the first two. It was as hilarious as the first two. I really love the sarcasm and wit. Both play a big role in all three books. It definitely adds a lot of color.

Dina is by far one of the most loyal and passionate characters I've ever had the pleasure of being introduced to. I can't say I really cared much for her sister. I didn't dislike her though. She wasn't a horrible person. My favorite character of the series Caldenia. She's an absolute riot! She definitely makes the book worth reading.

Renee Raudman narrated this book and the first two books as well. She did great. I still don't know if her southern accent is real or fake. Either way, it's impressive. I just adore it! I am kind of curious about why she gives the sister a bit of a masculine voice. I could be "reading" too much into that though.

I seriously loved the three books in this series. I understand that the fourth book switches to the sister as the main character. I plan to read it, but I'm a little nervous about it. I'm completely attached to Dina. She's just adorable. I relate to her so much!

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The Glittering Hour Blog Tour

About the Author:

IONA GREY is the author of the award-winning Letters to the Lost. She has a degree in English Literature and Language from Manchester University, an obsession with history and an enduring fascination with the lives of women in the twentieth century. She lives in rural Cheshire with her husband and three daughters.

About the Book:

An unforgettable historical about true love found and lost and the secrets we keep from one another from an award-winning author

Selina Lennox is a Bright Young Thing. Her life is a whirl of parties and drinking, pursued by the press and staying on just the right side of the scandal, all while running from the life her parents would choose for her.

Lawrence Weston is a penniless painter who stumbles into Selina's orbit one night and can never let her go even while knowing someone of her stature could never end up with someone of his. Except Selina falls hard for Lawrence, envisioning a life of true happiness. But when tragedy strikes, Selina finds herself choosing what's safe over what's right.

Spanning two decades and a seismic shift in British history as World War II approaches, Iona Grey's The Glittering Hour is an epic novel of passion, heartache, and loss.

Buy Links:

Amazon

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Indie Bound

Powell's

Review: Kylest's Reign

Kylest's Reign by Michelle Dare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Somebody has taken Kylest's sister. In the middle of his rounds of investigation trying to find her, he finds himself in Odessa's home. A woman who's jealousy ruined their relationship. He also finds Raven. Raven offers to help him find his sister and as they investigate, they grow close. Kylest thinks that Raven could even be his mate.

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't as intense and hilarious as the first two, but it was still amazing in its own way. It also covered more of the world than the first two did as well. I think the best part of this book is getting to know Kylest better. It was also nice finding another girl in this world to absolutely adore!

Raven is really special. She's humble and modest, but she's also feisty and strong. It's really impressive. She's a combination I wouldn't think possible. I've always wanted to see Kylest a bit more. He's been a mystery to me. In a good way. The only thing I was disappointed in was not getting to see much of Ari and Solomon. Those are my absolute favorite books in this series.

Troy Duran and Sarah L. Colton did a great job narrating. I'm not really shocked. They narrated the first two books and were just as fantastic in those as well. I'm sure I've listened to others by these two, but not fully. Even if I haven't, I definitely will. I really hope they narrate the rest of this series as well!

I really enjoyed this book! It was adorable how easy Kylest and Raven connected. It was like they had always known each other. I think everybody wants a relationship like that. I don't just mean romance. It would be nice to have a friendship like that as well. I really need to get the next book in my hands! It will be all about my favorite male in this series! I'm excited!

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Review: La Belle Sauvage

La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For Malcolm, his life is normal. He goes to school and helps with his parents at the inn they own. He helps the nuns across the way. More than anything, he likes to keep to himself. He likes to observe others. Life changes for him forever, when three men come to the inn and inquire about the nuns and whether or not they could hold a baby.

I really enjoyed this book. It takes place in a world I fell in love with with the His Dark Materials trilogy. Lyra is just a baby in this book. Pantalimon is just too adorable! I can't even get enough of it. I mused over the fact that this may have been a book to answer all questions that people wonder about in the trilogy. A way to tie up loose ends so to speak. It was nice. It could have been better, but I enjoyed it a lot.

There were so many amazing characters in this book. I especially adored Malcolm. I didn't care for Alice all that much, but I understood her. I understood why she was the way she was. It kind of becomes obvious later on in the book, but it's really hinted at through the entire book. I related most to Hannah. She's cunning and clever. She's also compassionate and loyal.

This book was published seventeen years after the third book in His Dark Materials trilogy. I do wonder if there was a reason behind the gap. I wonder if the book was originally planned or if the author wanted to come back to the world. I can't wait to dig into the next book. I'm also scared because I know it will be a few years before we see the conclusion of this new trilogy.

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Review: Sweep in Peace

Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dina is strong-armed into hosting a peace summit in her inn. The thought of what is going to transpire terrifies her. Add that to the fact that a local cop has a gut feeling something is going on. He makes it a point to stake out the area to prove something. Luckily, she has Caldenia to keep her company through it all.

I really enjoyed this book. It was just as good as the first book. It's funny and edgy at the same time. It's hard not to fall in love with the story and the characters. It's hard not to feel the feelings that the characters feel. I own the next two books in the series. I can't wait to dig into them. It's an amazing series. I'll probably look for excuses to reread it a few more times.

Dina is one of my favorite characters of all time. She's sweet but sassy. She doesn't put up with anybody's crap. Caldenia is pretty amazing. An aristocrat who's also a sociopathic killer! She says some of the most off the wall things imaginable. There are many other pretty amazing characters in the story. These are just my favorite two.

I gushed over this narrator in the first of the book. I was very impressed with her. I was just as impressed with her in this book was I was in the first. I may have been more impressed with this one than I was the first. That's saying a lot. Either way, she's great. I hope she narrates the rest of the series. I also look forward to hearing more books narrated by her.

This series fell into my lap. I can't explain it better than that. I'm glad it did though. It's fast-tracking its way up to my favorites list for sure. I'm antsy that the other two books will be just as good as the first two. I'm also antsy to see what they cover. I will find out soon enough. This book is funny. It is also edgy. I love it!

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War of the Downer King Blog Tour

Tales of Tarya Series Blog Tour

Review: Ice

Ice by Amy Cecil
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A tragic accident frees Caden from a life he never wanted, but at a very great cost. Things go downhill from there until he has an opportunity that he's been waiting a lifetime for. This opportunity causes a falling out with Emma, one of the most important women in his life. He thought she was out of his life forever until she shows up at his door asking for his help. Her friend has gone missing and nobody wants to help find her.

I really did enjoy this book greatly. The biggest issue I had was that the beginning was very choppy. There were things that were really glossed over. It was like the author stated what happened and moved on. I don't mean that in a bad way. I actually read Ripper, another book by this author. She's an amazing writer, and the rest of this book shows that. The first part could do a rewrite.

In ways, I really related to Emma. She's down to earth and very observant. She also drives me insane with some of her narrow-minded judgments. I get that she comes around, but still. I did want to tell her to stop being that way sometimes. Caden drove me nuts as well. He could be a great book boyfriend material. He gets set in these ways where he doesn't listen to anybody. It gets frustrating.

I'm going to muse on the fact that there's a possibility that Mark Bravo and Maya Bravo are related in some way. I'd assume that they were married, but people assuming wrongly is never fun. I don't like it when it's done with me. My boyfriend and I are constantly mistaken for brother and sister. Anyway, they were fantastic narrators. I fully intend on listening to other books that these two have narrated.

This book ends on a cliff-hanger. I wanted to warn anybody who might be interested in reading this. I can't stand cliff-hangers and I'm sure I'm not the only reader with this pet peeve. The only time I don't really mind cliff hangers is when I have the next book to grab and read straight away. I've been known to throw books across rooms when they end on a cliff hanger.

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Captive of the Darkness Book Blitz

Title: Captive of the Darkness

Author: Kasper Beaumont

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Captive-Darkness-Hidden-Angel-Book-ebook/dp/B081MW4D1P/

Release date: December 14th.  Preorder is now available.

In Kasper's own words: 

On Riley’s 18^th birthday, she is told she’s a demon hunter, like the rest of her family.  She shrugs the news off in disbelief but that very night she unwittingly enters the lair of a powerful demon and her whole world is turned upside down.

She meets a stripper nicknamed Cupid, who states he is prisoner of the demon.  He is a graceful ballet dancer forced into slavery but yearning to escape his dangerous master.  When she sees a glowing aura around this young man, she realizes he isn’t just any ordinary lad, but something very special.  She knows she must try to save him.

Blurb: 

Can an angel be hiding here on Earth?

A veil of secrecy is lifted on Riley’s 18th birthday. She thought she knew the world, but now discovers she is a demon hunter. It doesn’t seem real, but then she meets Him, a charismatic young dancer with special powers.
He is a prisoner of a powerful demon.

What secrets does this stranger hide? Will Riley risk her own family to save Him?

Excerpt: Small sandy feet pounded the warm pavement along the beach.  His heartbeat thrummed in his ears, faster than he ever thought possible.  The whispering kept getting closer, no matter how far or fast he ran.  He swiped a cap from outside a shower cubicle.  It was rather large for his head, a perfect disguise.  This covered most of his blond hair and shaded his eyes.  He hoped to outwit whoever was chasing him.  Turning a corner, he dove into a shaded alleyway and bent over to catch his breath.  An aching side-stitch now caught his attention, winding him.  His hands trembled as they rested on shaking and weakened knees.  Turning his cap backwards, he held his breath and peeked a look around the corner.  There was no sign of pursuit.  He let his breath out and wiped the sweat cascading down his cheeks that had soaked his swim shirt.  Fear drove him on.  It was instinct, not a rational decision on his behalf.  Then all the hairs on his body stood up on end.  A cold shiver ran down his spine.  A shadow passed over him.  A whisper, quiet and close.  Warm breath could be felt on his neck.  He turned around slow.  His eyes widened as his hands grasped for the wall at his back.  There was nowhere left to run.  "Oh please no...”

Biography:

Kasper J. Beaumont was born and raised in Australia and lives a quiet life with the family in a seaside town. Combining a love of fantasy and a penchant for travel in the Hunters of Reloria trilogy, she started to write on the urging of friends and family and enjoys watching readers become immersed in the magical world of Reloria. Kasper is a pen name for a rather shy author who is happy to remain unnamed.

The Hidden Angel series is a urban paranormal fantasy involving Angels and Demons in the seemingly ordinary city of Brisbane. Riley discovers she's a demon hunter on her 18th birthday and enters a dangerous new world.
Book 1: Captive of the Captive, published 2019.

The Hunters of Reloria trilogy is about the magical world of Reloria where halflings and fairies share a lifelong bond. Dwarves, elves, knights and dragons inhabit this country, but their world is about to be invaded by scaly lizardmen and giant Cyclops.

Prequel: Fandri's Adventures, published 2016.
Book 1: Elven Jewel, published 2012.
Book 2: Hunters' Quest, published 2013
Book 3: Dragon's Revenge, published 2014.

Kasper's links:

Website: www.huntersofreloria.weebly.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kasperj.beaumont
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KasperBeaumont
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaz.beaumont/

Smailholm Cover & Trailer Reveal

Review: The Cases That Haunt Us

The Cases That Haunt Us by John E. Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From Jack the Ripper to JonBenet Ramsey, this book covers five cases that have been the most talked about and most frustrating. There's also a special chapter that highlights a few other cases that were solved and not.

I really did enjoy reading the book. I learned so many things about these famous cases that I never knew. I even heard theories that I'd never heard before. Like the possibility that Jack the Ripper was a woman. They are all very sad cases. I wish that I had the ability to go through the cases and try to help if I can. Maybe one day I'll go through the proper schooling to be able to.

Normally, I'd give my opinions on the characters. This is a nonfiction book talking about multiple cases. I can say that I'd love to go to lectures and hear talk about these cases and many more cases. It's hard to explain exactly what I'd want to do, but I'm working it out.

I really enjoyed the narrator speaking. He was engaging. The book itself wasn't really boring or hard to understand. If it was though, he would have made it easy to understand. His name is Malcolm Hillgartner.

I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading many more books like it as time goes on. There's something powerful about hearing the stories behind the cases. It feels like a call to action to me. Like I should be getting up and doing something to help solve these cases. Maybe some research work in the background. Every role helps, right? Either way, I fully recommend this book.

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The Thirteenth Guardian Book Blitz

More Than Us Cover Reveal

Review: Clean Sweep

Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dina is an innkeeper. Her job is to offer sanctuary to people from many worlds. For many things, she remains neutral. Her neutrality is challenged when dogs are being killed in her area. The only paranormal she's aware of refuses to acknowledge what she's saying or help. That changes when she takes action herself and keeps a neighbor from getting killed.

I really enjoyed this book. It was just very funny and edgy. It was full of suspense and sarcasm. Two of my favorite things! If I didn't have so much to do today, I'd of devoured the entire book in one sitting. and I almost did. I read it in huge chunks through the day. I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series.

Dina is so sassy. She reminds me of the real sassy one from Designing Women. It's been a long time since I watched the show, so I don't remember the name. The other characters were funny and awesome as well. I just connected with Dina more than I did the rest of them.

Renee Raudman is an excellent narrator. I'm not sure if I have listened to anything before. I definitely will be listening to more books narrated by her though. She has a way of pulling you into the story and making you want more. And I LOVED the southern accent.

I stumbled on the fourth book at random awhile back. I managed to get my hands on it somehow as well. I just KNEW I had to have the rest of the series as well. Due to dumb luck, that became a possibility recently. I began to listen to it immediately. I'm glad I did. I loved this book!

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Review: Every Last Drop

Every Last Drop by Sarah Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tessa and her husband decided to take the next step in trying to have a child. They go to a fertility clinic and get tested to see what the problem is and what the steps are to move forward. Instead, Tessa discovers that she has a tumor on her brain. Her life and plans are thrown upside down and she must decide the best course of action from there.

I really didn't care for the story. It had a very slow start and I found that Tessa's attitude got a bit under my skin. Because of the diagnosis, I decided to keep reading. I knew that it would get better as the story went on. I knew it would end up being a beautiful story or a beautifully tragic story. I knew there was a chance that it would give me deep thoughts. I was not disappointed there.

I really didn't connect with any of the characters at first. I felt that Tessa was way too aggressive. She got angry with the doctors like it was their fault that she was diagnosed and things turned out the way that they did. She broke other people's property like that was okay. I mean I get why, but it was so frustrating. And the people in her life had moments where they were really selfish and didn't really care about the pain she was going through.

I'm really not looking forward to bringing this part up. I really enjoyed Jaimee Moore's voice. She's got this naturally narrative voice. She goes from voice to voice with ease. My problem was the hollow sound that seemed to kind of exist in the background of the entire audio. It wasn't horrible, but it was very present. Then there was this feedback at the beginning of many chapters that was a little disturbing. Other than that, the narration was great.

This story was beautiful but sad. It was also very educational. I may not have cared for the story or characters much at the beginning, but I adored both in the end. The biggest thing about this book is that it needs to be read with an open mind. It's full and heavy. It's a very deep topic. I really did enjoy it a lot. Have tissues ready!

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