Knight In Peril (A Jorja Knight Private Investigator Mystery) by Alice Bienia

 

Knight In Peril by Alice Bienia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jorja Knight is excited to be reunited with her bestie, Gabrielle, in Istanbul on vacation! The life of a Private Investigator never ends though, as Jorja isn't really able to enjoy this trip. Upon arrival, her friend was to pick her up but she's a no-show. After a couple of hours, Jorja makes her way to the hotel. Gab's suitcase is there, but where is she? Then Jorja soon finds out another girl is missing. Is there a link?

This book is full of twists and turns! If you love a good mystery, this one will keep you entertained! I felt a little like I was visiting Istanbul while reading this book and it makes me want to go visit now!

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Dangerous Rhythm (The Echo Series Book 4) by C.R. Alam

 

Dangerous Rhythm by C.R. Alam
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am a total fan of this series!! I love the writing style, the humor (and this one...well, just read it!), the suspense, the drama....it's all in here! I think this is my favorite book of the series so far but they are all really good! The tension that Lina displays, although she's trying to be professional, just lets you know that she's a ticking time bomb of emotions. Curtis is a rockstar that just can't hide his vibe. The Stilletto's? They're as ruthless as they sound.

Another enjoyable book in this great series!

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Luna the Howling Husky Finds Her Howl by Samantha Shannon

 

Luna the Howling Husky Finds Her Howl by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Luna the husky is very unique. Unlike other huskies, Luna cannot howl at the moon when she wants to. Because of that, her husky siblings bully her and treat her poorly. They all get adopted quickly but Luna is left behind. She meets a cat who is also unique. Together, they treat each other with kindness and find a furever home!

I love the illustrations in this story! They are very vibrant and engaging. The story is also very well done. Share this one with youngsters of all ages!

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I Am A Bold Asian Boy (Asian Family Series) by Yobe Qiu

 

I Am a Bold Asian Boy: A Positive Affirmation Book for Asian Boys by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a super cute, multicultural book about a young boy repeating his affirmations. Books like this are so important to all people but I really like that this one is geared towards boys. It's a very positive and uplifting book with colorful illustrations.

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Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book on the recommendation of my sister. All I can say is, "WOW!"

Based in the 1960's, Elizabeth Zott is a research scientist who is setting out to prove that women shouldn't tolerate hiding behind the men that seem to run the world. She's determined to make a name for HERSELF and not let anyone else take credit for it.

When she falls in love with world renowned scientist Calvin Evans, she lets him know right away that she's not interested in marriage. A tragic accident leaves Elizabeth with a gift she never asked for and doesn't quite know what to do with.

Faced with many life decisions and still trying to pave her own way, Elizabeth breaks down barriers in some unconventional ways, even going against herself at times.

Supper may be at six but the real fun is on at Six-Thirty!! :)

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Santa Gnome Wreath (It Lights Up!)

The hottest item off my hook is this adorable Santa Gnome Wreath! It's an 8 inch wreath base and comes with fairy lights. The lights have three different settings on them. 

This was a lot of fun to make, even though I had to wait awhile on some of the supplies to finish it up! Just in time for Christmas!! 

I do take custom orders! Visit FaithfulgirlCreation to chat about your next order! 

The Christmas Carousel (The Brass Ring Series Book 2) by K. L. Small

 

The Christmas Carousel by K.L. Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is such a sweet series that young readers can enjoy reading independently or having it read to them. Rusty's grandpa gave him a brass ring awhile back that takes them on magical adventures when it is used while riding the carousel. This time, the carousel is the Christmas carousel in the mall as the one in the park is closed for the season. Rusty has his heart set on a specific gift for Grandpa but it's a bit out of his price range. It's during his carousel adventures that Rusty learns the best gift to give Grandpa.

This book does address elderly aging and Alzheimer's. It would be a good way to introduce a young mind to this issue should it be something they should be exposed to.

This is the second book in a series and could be read as a standalone. However, you will miss out on a lot of adventures from the previous story, along with a much more detailed background.

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading about the Haunted Carousel coming in 2024!!

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Mission Target (Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 7) by Mark Nolan

 

Mission Target by Mark Nolan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jake has such an interesting background and he's not afraid to go rogue when the situation arises. He and his trusty sidekick, Cody, are immersed in another drama that is threatening American lives. Together, they set out to get the people behind all this action and bring them to justice.

I absolutely love this series! This can be read as a standalone but don't cheat yourself out of other fantastic adventures with Jake and Cody!

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Key West Dead (Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 6) by Mark Nolan

 

Key West Dead by Mark Nolan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jake and Cody can't even enjoy Key West in all it's beauty without being roped into yet another murder investigation. This time it happens at a wedding!

I am loving this series and can't wait to read more!! Cody is for sure my favorite to read about!!

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Deadly Weapon (Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 5) by Mark Nolan

 

Deadly Weapon by Mark Nolan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jake and Cody are inseparable and now they are facing a deadly virus that is threatening to wipe out humanity. All Jake wanted was to get some rest from recent events and take a relaxing fishing trip but here he is, finding himself in another intense situation.

Full of plot twists, drama, and action, this one is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. While it can be read as a stand alone, don't cheat yourself out of the other amazing adventures of Jake and Cody.

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Killer Lawyer (Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 3) by Mark Nolan

 

Killer Lawyer by Mark Nolan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jake loves a good ole game of cat and mouse. He and his dog Cody thrive on it. When Jake's framed for the murder of a friend, it's up to him to clear his name and put the real culprit behind bars.

If you're a fan of plot twists, thrilling adventures, and have a soft spot for military war dogs, this book is for you!

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Vigilante Assassin (Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 2) by Mark Nolan

 

Vigilante Assassin by Mark Nolan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Secrets abound in this next installment of the Jake Wolfe series. Jake and his retired military war dog Cody are doing everything they can to protect Lauren and her children. Sifting through secrets and becoming a target himself, Jake vows to make sure that Lauren can gain some closure.

This book can be read as a standalone but I promise you, you'll want to read them all!

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Dead Lawyers Don't Lie (Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 1) by Mark Nolan

 

Dead Lawyers Don't Lie by Mark Nolan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For the wealthy lawyers of the San Francisco area, beware! The Artist is coming after attorneys and Jake is going to do everything he can to save as many of them as possible. Can he do it without coming into harms way himself though?

What a great start to this series! I love that there is a military war dog involved in this series. I'm a bit of a pushover for these creatures! There is a lot of action, twists and turns, and some deceit thrown in to make this a very enjoyable read!

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Lottery of Secrets by Nadija Mujagic

 

Lottery of Secrets by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are times when a book is so good that you struggle to leave a review without giving away spoilers. This is one of those times!

This is a very fast-paced read. There are so many great little nuggets in here with twists and turns everywhere! I'm hoping this is the start to a new series. Every book Nadija Mujagic writes continues to get better and better!!

Carve out enough time to read this in one setting because I promise you, you'll need/want to!

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Recent Crochet Items off the Hook

 I'm trying to do better about making this blog a little more entertaining than just book reviews, not that they are not entertaining! I'd like to showcase a little more about me and for those that know me, it's a widely known fact that I love to crochet. 

Here are a few items I've recently finished: 

This cute little snowman can be made into an ornament, a magnet, or a keychain.

Like his snowman counterpart, this can be made into an ornament, magnet, or keychain. 

Goes great with the snowman  and elf and can be an ornament, magnet, or keychain. 

These dish pot scrubbies are super fun to make (and I've made a lot of them lately) and they make great gifts. This one is in the color called "Calm Print". 

Mr. Leggy Frog in Purple

Mr. Leggy Frog in pink

Mr. Leggy Frog in variegated blues

Dish Scrubbie in lavender

Dish Scrubbie in Denim

Ultimate Sacrifice Shawl in "Unicorn"

I customized this Christmas Stocking for the great-grandson of my former softball coach. 

Chic Beanie hat in Rosewood. This can be made in sizes to fit all age groups. 

I love the colors in this beanie! It's called "Sunset" and can be made to fit all ages. 

And last, but not least, I had a blast making these shark socks. They can be made to fit all ages as well!

If you'd like to see more of my work, please visit me at Faithfulgirl Creations! 

I also accept custom orders on my website!! 

Thank you for looking! 

Grave Digger Academy IV (Grave Digger Academy Series) by C.A. King

 

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

Year four at the Grave Digger Academy is unlike any other for Makayla. There are more students than last year and there is a new headmistress. There are more new rules compared to last year. Some students were not invited back from previous years and it's unclear why. The Crones are really honing in on Makayla and her movements. She ends up meeting some unexpected people who help her out along the way. Can she survive this year of school?

Another great read! This one was a bit shorter than the others but still covered a lot of ground. I'm looking forward to year 5!

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Grave Digger Academy III (Grave Digger Academy Series) by C.A. King

 

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

It's the start of Makayla's third year at the Grave Digger Academy. Things are a little different from last year and Makayla feels like she's a target. First of all, where are all the students? What's with all the new rules? Makayla knows there's about to be an adventure and she's not sure she's ready to deal with it or the fall out.

I recommend reading this series in order as the background established in previous books is key to understanding what's happening. Another great read by C.A. King! Now on to book 4!

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Raining Fish and Frogs by Lois Wickstrom

 

Raining Fish and Frogs by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A young man has a hankering for a breakfast of fried trout. What's the best way to get it? Why, go to Lake Fish-or-Cut-Bait and fish for it yourself! Things got a little interesting for him when the winds picked up, and along with that, all the fish and frogs of the lake. The wind took the fish, frogs, and balls that it accumulated along the way into town until it could no longer hold everything. Then it started raining fish and frogs.

Super cute book about the science phenomena of a water spout. I love that this book was done in black and white (at least my copy was) with a colorful cover. The illustrations were very well done and made the story more entertaining. A great way to teach about this science feature, plus about the safety measures that should be taken should you be involved in or near a water spout.

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Quick Affirmations for Children (Quick Affirmations Series) by Kim Ann & Yobe Qiu

 

Quick Affirmations for Children: A to Z of Easy Motivations for Creating Better days - Positive Affirmations for Happy Children by Kim Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sometimes we need to be reminded of positive things to say or think about ourselves or others. While this is a children's book, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult.

This book would make a great teaching tool, not only to add more positivity into a child's life, but also to teach them the alphabet, colors, different ethnicities, etc. There were several golden nuggets in this short read.

The illustrations are also extremely well done! The colors are vibrant, the pictures are relevant and engaging, as well as inclusive of different age groups and ethnicities.



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Dumpster Dying (A Hazardous Hoarding Mystery Book 1) by Michelle Bennington

 

Dumpster Dying by Michelle Bennington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is pretty funny considering the deep underlying emotional issues that are addressed in this mystery. Loss, hoarding/collecting, and loneliness are the major themes.

A dead body is found by Birdie and it's someone she knew and was close to. She decides she is going to solve this murder and her sister and dead husband will help her out.

This one is a great short read!

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Secrets at the Café: A Novel of Suspense about Family and Friendship by Susan Specht Oram

 

Secrets at the Cafe by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

Another great read by Susan Specht Oram! This one kept me very intrigued as the journal in question was discovered missing right from the start. It was up to Karina to figure out where the journal was and to save her inheritance.

A very riveting read that will have you guessing until the end! I love this author's writing style and how she portrays the story. I highly recommend this read, as well as all of the author's other works!

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Christmas Cove by Sarah Dressler

 

Christmas Cove by Sarah Dressler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

Tis the season to read a great Christmas story. Actually, I enjoy them year round! This one gave off a bit of a Hallmark vibe, so anyone into those types of shows will enjoy this story. The book is always better than the show anyway!

America (love the name) finds a Christmas town that is severely lacking Christmas. She pairs up with the very attractive mayor, Leo, to bring Christmas spirit to this small town. The town might not be the only thing getting some added cheer and brightness though!



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The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams

 

The Christmas Escape by Belinda Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a cute, festive read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Lizzie's story. Poor girl has just lost her job, her room mate is moving out, and her parents think she's a failure. Then, an opportunity to go to Australia comes up and Lizzie can't resist! I don't blame her for going and seeing sights and cheering herself up over some pretty bad circumstances. She takes it all in stride though and meets Jaz. This Christmas just might be the best ever!



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Almost and Forever by Angela K. Parker

 

Almost and Forever: An Emotional Second Chance at Love Romance by Angela K. Parker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This packed a few punches, some of them very unexpected!! The journey of Adam and Hope is one filled with twists, turns, love, loss, hope, and forever. Some parts I could see coming, others hit out of left field. I enjoyed this read and felt a part of this story, as another neighbor next door.

This story isn't for everyone. There is loss and it's pretty traumatic. Please use discernment when picking this book up to read if you're going through a hard time. It is worth the read when you're ready though!

This was my first read by this author but I love her writing style and I'll be looking for more of her work!

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Baking a Bicycle (Invisible Magic Wand Book 7) by Lois Wickstrom

 

Baking a Bicycle: Invisible Magic Wand Book Seven by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's Caspian's un-birthday again. This year he tells Grandpa that he'd like a bike. When Caspian opens his gift, it's an envelope of Baking Up Dust. Whatever will he do with this and how is this going to create a bike that he so desperately desires?

Another cute read by a favorite author. The illustrations are also very well done, full of vibrant colors. This story will allow the reader to use their imagination to create this bike and celebrate another un-birthday in style!!

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This Egg Won’t Hatch by Lois Wickstrom

 

This Egg Won't Hatch by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great read by Lois Wickstrom!

Mama Warbler is sitting on her nest keeping the eggs warm. One day, those eggs start to hatch and Mama is so excited to see her new youngins. The first one to hatch is much too big to be a warbler. She's a cuckoo who's mom laid her in the warbler's nest. All the other eggs hatch but one. She's known as the Timid Chick. She just wants to stay in her shell and when Mama Warbler is away gathering food, the Cuckoo started bullying and discouraging her from ever hatching. The Cuckoo then kicks Timid Chick out of the nest one day while Mama is away. Things have a whole new perspective after that for Timid Chick.

This is a great book for kids to learn how to stand up to bullies. It's also great for teaching kids that it's ok to be timid but that by doing so, they may be missing out. It's an encouraging read that is also intended to help build up confidence in those who may not have as much as others. It's ok to be timid but let's work on building up courage and confidence!

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RELEASE BLITZ: Before I'm Gone by Heidi McLaughlin

 

~ 📙 •☕️ •📘 ~ RELEASE BLITZ ~ 📙 •☕️ •📘 ~ 

 Before I'm Gone by Heidi McLaughlin 

 Amazon - https://amzn.to/46NbUDv  

 Hosted by Itsy Bitsy Book Bits 

Genre - Women's Fiction 

Page Count - 364 

Cover Designer - PLOY SIRIPANT 

Synopsis - Palmer Sinclair has never needed anyone’s help. A successful loan officer, she’s all work and no play. But when splitting headaches and blurred vision begin to affect her job, she begrudgingly sees a doctor and receives a diagnosis that leaves her shaken to her core and with little time left. Facing an uncertain future, Palmer makes a bucket list, determined to do the things she’d only dreamed of before she goes. Kent Wagner has dedicated his life to helping others. An army medic turned paramedic, he’s a regular at Palmer’s bank who makes his monthly car loan payments in person just to see her radiant smile. After responding to not one but two 911 calls involving Palmer, he learns about her bucket list. Touched by her circumstances—and needing a distraction from his own—Kent offers to take Palmer to the places on her list. Neither is prepared for the emotional journey ahead…or how little time they have left together, but the friendship they find in that brief time might be the most lasting legacy of all. 

Author Heidi McLaughlin  

Lost and Found (Logan McKenna Mystery Book 9) by Valerie Davisson

 

Lost and Found: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 9 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Please don't let this be the end!!! Logan is facing what is quite possibly her hardest case. A body is found and her friend Sam asks her to help out his friend. Logan isn't quite sure this friend is completely innocent though. She's not going to let the murderer get away with this and she'll exhaust all her resources to make sure this person comes to justice.

Another great story that kept my attention. I really hope there will be more books in this series!

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