The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen

 

The Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When the Summers family loses their patriarch very suddenly, they find themselves losing their standing in the community that they were so well acquainted with at one time. Sarah, the acting oldest sister in the family, makes a decision that could either diminish their standing forever or could make a positive impact on their lives. Opening their home as a place for people to stay while travelling, they expect to cater to a much older crowd due to their proximity to the healing sea waters. However, they find themselves entertaining a variety of age groups and social standings. Viola, a very "special" sister refuses to do any of the grunt work but has agreed that she will read to invalid people. Each family member finds themselves having to dig deep within to save the family from leaving their beloved home.

I enjoyed this story very much. There is a couple of sweet romances brewing, a mysterious "missing" sister, an ailing mother, and lots of decision making in a time when women were frowned upon for running businesses on their own.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series!

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An Awakened Heart by Jody Hedlund

 

An Awakened Heart by Jody Hedlund
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christine is a well-to-do woman who feels empty. She is looking for a way to make a difference in the world and is becoming discouraged by the message she keeps hearing on Sunday mornings. So many women in attendance are looking for ways to better their lives but they find it hard to do when resources are so few. They want meaningful jobs with decent pay but also need childcare, food, and clothing. Christine approaches to local minister who responds that when they women show more faith, they will come into better things. Christine disagrees and sets out to find a better solution.

Along the way, Christine finds herself falling in love with this preacher that she was so disconcerted about initially. He's finding himself falling in love with her too. They are, afterall, working pretty closely together on a daily basis so it only makes sense.

There is a bit of a dual storyline going on here as the story also features Elise and her family, along with their struggles. Everyone will all come together in the end though!

I look forward to reading more stories in this series! While this book is a little older, I'm just now finding it!

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At Your Request by Jen Turano

 

At Your Request by Jen Turano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a pretty fun and sometimes funny read. I found myself laughing out loud several times while enjoying this story.

Miss Wilhelmena Radcliff is someone that I would consider a brat! She's from a wealthy family and hasn't had to want for much in life. During her coming out party, her best friend of forever proposes marriage to her. She turns him down and subsequently, her life starts going downhill. Her dad loses a bunch of money in a business deal and "Willie" finds herself a wallflower among the New York society. It's at a ball that she runs into Mr. Edgar Wanamaker, the young man who was her best friend and who proposed marriage to her. It had been several years since they'd last seen each other and their meeting is rather humorous! Will they rekindle the flames or move on with their lives?

I think I loved Edgar's mom the most. She reminds me of a very sassy woman I once knew who kept everyone on their toes. This was an enjoyable, quick read and I look forward to continuing with this series!

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Appalachian Serenade by Sarah Loudin Thomas

 

Appalachian Serenade by Sarah Loudin Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the story of Delilah and Robert. Both have experienced life in different ways and begin to question where God will have them. When they meet up and come together, no one could predict the beauty that they would find amongst them!

This is a sweet romance that does have a religious focus, although not over the top. This story focuses on growing where God plants you and trusting Him to lead you to the right place(s) and people.

I look forward to reading more in this series!

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The Angry Creature: A Children's Picture Book About Managing Anger, Feelings, and Controlling Emotions by Aleks Kashaev

 

The Angry Creature: A Children's Picture Book About Managing Anger, Feelings and Controlling Emotions by Aleks Kashaev
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Crank has anger issues and isn't sure how to handle them. One day his friend Zen gives him some advice, that when he follows it, helps him to get this emotions under control better than they were.

This is a great book and should be shared with kids of all ages. Everyone gets emotional and depending on how the emotions are dealt with, the outcome of the situation can be drastically affected. Share Crank's story with children of all ages and help them to develop resources to help them out when things seem to be a little out of control.

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It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

 

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted to read this book after finishing Verity recently. My expectations were a bit high after loving the first book I read by this author. This book, while enjoyable for the most part, was not the hit that I found in Verity. This is a hard book to read. There are so many hard things that Lily faces and has to deal with and she doesn't have the best support system either. I didn't like Ryle from the get-go and struggled with his character through out the story.

It will be hard to put this book down because you just have to know what's going to happen next. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series with a slightly lower expectation than I had for this one.

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The Adventures of Kitt and Gianna: Paris France: The Parisian Journey of a Curious Young Boy and His Food-Loving Labradoodle by Devin Kerzich

 

The Adventures of Kitt and Gianna: Paris, France: The Parisian Journey of a Curious Young Boy and His Food-loving Labradoodle by Devin Kerzich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A boy and his dog travel to Paris, France to see the sites. They go to all the important places and talk a little about the history behind each place. The illustrations are very well done in this book, however the print from the story itself is a little difficult to read due to the colors and font used.

Overall, a cute book that children will enjoy. It could inspire them to want to travel to Paris.

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Abby the Alligator by Luna and Leaf Luffy

 

Abby The Alligator: Abby The Alligator by Luna And Leaf Luffy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There need to be more books written like this to encourage kids who may be different that it's ok. In this story, Abby has a very long tail. It's unlike any of her friends' tails and she feels like her tail singles her out. There are times when Abby will go away for a bit due to the embarrassment from her long tail. However, her friends love her just the way she is and they are a bit jealous of her differences at times.

This book is very well illustrated!! I love how colorful the pictures are that go along with this story. I would recommend this on every bookshelf and use it to encourage young readers that differences are okay and should be celebrated, just as individual people should be celebrated.

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Buzzing Bees Twinkling Stars: Adorable and Fun Rhyming Picture Story Book Counting Down from 10 to 1 by Mylah Ericks

 

Buzzing Bees Twinkling Stars: Adorable and Fun Rhyming Picture Story Book, Counting Down From 10 to 1. by Mylah Ericks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Learn to count from 10 to 1 with these fun characters and rhymes! Pigs, caterpillars, birds, puppies, bees and more will guide the young learner through a series of counting exercises. This is a great book for any library, home, or school!

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The Fantastic Flight of Flora the Fairy by Coleton Winters

 

The Fantastic Flight of Flora the Fairy by Coleton Winters
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Flora is wanting to fly high in the sky so badly but for some reason, she isn't able to do it. She tries all sorts of gizmos and gadgets to help her fly. She even seeks out wise counsel. Once receiving some great advice from an owl, Flora is able to soar to heights higher than most other fairies!

This is a super cute book that focuses on having confidence. The illustrations are very vivid and attractive and add more meaning to the story. Flora is empowered by her friends to soar to new heights and this can be a lesson for anyone struggling with insecurities.

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I've Only Got Three Hands by Sigal Adler

 

I've Only Got Three Hands! by Sigal Adler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This monster mom is tired. With her 3 hands, she works hard all day to ensure a safe, fun, and clear environment for her little 4 handed monster. He wants to sit and read all day and to be read to but monster mom just doesn't have the time or energy. One day, he decides he should clean his own room and things suddenly change for the better!!

Super cute book that should be read to all little ones to encourage them to help out around the house! I wish monster mom would have been a little more stern with her son to help clean up instead of doing it all on her own but in the end, he got the message that more time can be spent with mom if he does his part around the house.

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Fluffy's First Christmas by Mrs. Ani

 

Fluffy's First Christmas by Mrs. Ani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's Fluffy's first Christmas and like anyone, he's excited! All the colors are intriguing to him and he goes around the house looking to see what each color represents. All of a sudden, he sees black boots and decides he better get back to sleep before Santa sees him.

This is a great story for young readers who are also learning their colors. This would make a great addition to any library, whether personal or public!

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Verity by Colleen Hoover

 

Verity by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just jumped on this Colleen Hoover bandwagon and this was my first read by her. Woah, woah, woah....there are so many facets to this book that it's hard to write about it without giving anything away. I will say this...don't start it and think you're going to be able to put it down. I mean, I had to due to life but once I picked it up (at 11pm mind you), I had to read it until it was finished (3am). There were so many twists and turns, and while I suspected what might have happened, do we truly know? I have a few questions still and this one will stick with me for awhile.

I look forward to reading more books like this but I've been told that this author doesn't generally write in this specific genre. I'd like to encourage her if she is reading this to write more like this!

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Nessie and the Living Stone (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah

 

Nessie and the Living Stone by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Craig and his little sister Linda are from Birmingham but they are on holiday with their family at Loch Ness. They are both pretty determined to find Nessie and they are able to do that once a stone washes up on the shore. There is an adventure awaiting them when they finally get the chance to meet the infamous Nessie and it's one that no one will believe.

This is a bit longer of a book than most of them written by this author. The chapters are fairly short and there are less than 10 of them so a budding reader could do well with this one. All ages will enjoy the story and the illustrations are also very well done in this book.

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Sweet Dreams by Claire (Capture the Light Series) by Nanette Littlestone

 

Sweet Dreams by Claire by Nanette Littlestone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tradition rules the bakery where Claire has basically grown up. Set in Claremore, Ireland, Claire wants nothing more than to bake to her hearts content. She longs to own her own bakery where she can create the items that she loves most. Her life is safe and mostly content until Finn steps in the picture. He does his best to get Claire out of her comfort zone and into his arms.

This was a fun read that made me smile!! I could almost smell the goodies that Claire was making at times and her earrings were a sweet little addition to her culinary skills!

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The Magic Man (The Olympic Peninsula Book 3) by Cat Treadgold

 

The Magic Man by Cat Treadgold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was excited to get to dive into another Cat Treadgold story featuring the O'Connell family! The star of this story is David, who has just returned from Africa. He's a doctor that people refer to as the "magic man". He has a fiancée who is a bit on the prickly side. David runs into Maddie at a family get-together and sparks start to fly between them. Maddie soon realizes that David isn't exactly a free man to pursue so she sets her sites on Kilo. Who will win out in the end?

This story has it all and then some! I have really enjoyed this series and I hope more books will follow soon!

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Lost Property (The Tom Grant Series Book 6) by Samantha Adair

 

Lost Property: A Tom Grant Novel by Samantha Adair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tom Grant is no stranger in the world of crime. In this story, Operation SweetPea shows up on James's doorstep and forces Tom to come out of retirement. Very relevant topic of human trafficking is covered in this book and you won't want to put it down. The writing is done is such a way that things twist and turn before a resolution takes place.

This book can be read as a stand alone but I do recommend reading previous books. I need to go back and fill in some gaps that will help make certain details much more cohesive.

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Motherland (The Tom Grant Series Book 3) by Samantha Adair

 

Motherland by Samantha Adair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you're looking for a book that has twists and turns that you could never predict coming, this is your book. This is my first read by this author and while this can be read as a standalone, I'm going to have to go back and pick up the first two books in the series. There is so much action, adventure, backstabbing, espionage, and drama that you won't want to put this book down.

Isabella made a promise to her dad and it's one that could cost her her life. However, a promise is a promise and Isabella is going to return to her homeland. That return is dangerous because there is a huge bounty on her head and she's not entirely sure who put it there. Tom isn't going to let her go alone because he can't bear to be without her. What price is he willing to pay and to what lengths is he willing to go on Isabella's behalf?

Such a great read and I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's work!

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Dreamscape (J.J. Morris Mysteries) by J.N. Sheats

 

Dreamscape by J.N. Sheats
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's getting really close to finals week and Joey has never made poorer grades in her life. She's always been a great student but lately has started having dreams that are overtaking her every thought. There are mysterious fires happening all around her and her roommate has been missing for quite some time. She gets these inklings that draw her near to the scenes and she finds herself getting a little too involved sometimes. Is she going to be able to pull off passing grades for this semester?

This is a great book. I was hooked from the first chapter. There are portions of the book that seem like they might be small cliffhangers and you're on the edge of your seat until you can turn the page and get more of the story. The descriptions are so good it's like you are right there next to Joey. There is adventure, paranormal activity, and twisty mysteries throughout. This is the second book in the series. Having not read the first book, there were times I wish I had more background on certain things but enough was given to not lose the story. I will go back and read the first book though!



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Recipe For Revenge (An April May Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Hazel Smith

 

Recipe For Revenge: An Unputdownable Small Town Cozy Murder Mystery by Hazel Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.75 Stars

April has moved into her grandmother's late house after having it willed to her. She's more accustomed to life in Chicago but she's getting adjusted to Laurel Lake but only temporarily. Weird things start to happen around her and then there's the mysterious notes being left. Will April open a part of her past that she may not be ready to deal with?

This was a very enjoyable story. I loved Buddy/Ralph and his role in this story. There is one overarching theme in this book with several little offshoots which make the reader want to come back for more!

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Shadowed Agenda: An Enemies to Lovers Action-Packed Romantic Suspense Thriller (Shadow Defense Security Series) by Mavery Ellscott

 

Shadowed Agenda: An Enemies to Lovers Action-Packed Romantic Suspense Thriller by Mavery Ellscott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, wow, wow....

I enjoyed the first book in this series but this one was phenomenal!! I hard a very hard time putting this one down to go to work for a few hours!! There are twists and turns, love and hate relationships, friends and foes, you just never know what the next page will bring.

Buckle up for a ride like you've never had before! The relationship between Regan and Pavlo is like a yo-yo trying to learn a new trick. The relationship between Regan and her sister is a pot ready to boil over at any minute. Your heart will fall in love with a precious little girl.

I am ready for the next book in this series and can't wait to see who it focuses on!



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Encounters With Old Coyote by Laura Koerber

 

Encounters with Old Coyote by Laura Koerber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was not one that I enjoyed. However, please do not go off my review alone as there are many who appreciated this much more than I did.

In this story, Andrea is suffering with cancer and she decides that she is going to take fate into her own hands and die on her terms. She soon learns that she's only "half-dead" though and, in her ghost form, meets a coyote who embodies antlers like a deer and can make and drink coffee. Together, they share several stories about life and death in general.

I had a hard time staying interested in this story and I'm not really sure why. I enjoy supernatural reads so it wasn't that aspect of it. However, I can't really put my finger on it.

Give this one a chance if you enjoy quirky supernatural reads!

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Porter and Midge: Paws and Playtime: A Kid’s Guide to a Happy Dog (Porter and Midge Children’s Book Series) by Jennie Chen and Giselle Nevada

 

Porter and Midge: Paws and Playtime: A Kid's Guide to a Happy Dog by Giselle Nevada
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Porter and Midge, along with their dogs, are on an adventure to learn more about stimulating activities that dogs enjoy. They also discover some lower stimulating playtime activities as well. Their friend Cheryl invites them to the "doggy P.E. class" (my words) to play different sports with the dogs there.

The illustrations in this book almost look like they are going to come off the page! They are very well done and are in vibrant colors.

This is a must-have for animal loving families and can be used as a teaching tool with youngsters learning about animal care.


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Carrie’s Flight (Grandma’s Closet) by Lois Wickstrom

 

Carrie's Flight by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The starlings are migrating and it's one of Carrie and her grandmother's bonding moments. They love to sit and watch them together. This year, grandma is living across town though. Carrie finds a box marked "feathers" in the hall closet and just as she's about to investigate the box's contents, grandma calls on a video chat. Carrie and her grandmother are able to share their joy of the starlings together afterall.

Super cute read! The author includes some historical background on starlings at the end of the book for further reading and research.

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Renewed (Fateful Justice Series) by Sara Vinduska

 

Renewed by Sara Vinduska
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first read by this author. This book can easily be read as a stand alone but I'm going to be going back and reading the previous ones in this series.

He's a very good looking cowboy and she's running from her past. When Hayden shows up on Ruby's doorstep, he's been shot and left for dead. It's up to Ruby to save his life and then he, in turn, helps to save hers.

This was a suspenseful read full of romance and adventure. There were times the story got a little choppy but overall, a very good read with a happy ending!

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Unexpected by Laylah Abrams

 

Unexpected by Laylah Abrams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun, contemporary read of a modern day fairytale romance between two totally opposite people. However, we all know the saying, opposites attract! When wealthy celebrity heiress Claire meets down-on-his-luck and on his last penny Nick, their worlds collide in ways that no one would ever see coming. Full of drama, a little smidge of humor, and some angst, this book is sure to keep you interested from word one until done!

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Lela’s Choice by Jennifer Raines

 

Lela's Choice by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great read by this author!

I loved this contemporary romance novel, set in the Land Down Under! There is a lot of angst with a bit of mystery and some romance as well. This is a heartwarming story involving a teenager and her overly protective father, as well as a runaway. It's sure to keep you engaged and I am already looking forward to another story by Jennifer Raines.

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To Catch An Elf by Debra Parmley

 

To Catch An Elf: Pennsylvania Fighter Pilot by Debra Parmley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun, intriguing read full of lots of twists and turns. Let's not forget that there is a creepy elf that must be photographed daily too! The deeper into the story you get, the more intriguing and harder it is to put it down. There's enough romance (a little steamy too!) and a lot of mystery to keep your eyes pealed into this read!

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Triple Trouble at Amberwood (The Amberwood Hall Ballet School Series) by Eleanor Dixon

 

Triple Trouble at Amberwood: A fast-paced middle-grade story set in a ballet boarding school haunted by friendly ghosts by Eleanor Dixon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I dove into book 4 of this series having not read any of the previous books. This book is geared more towards 8-12 year olds but most, if not all, age groups would enjoy this book. It took me a minute to get into the story and I think it's because I did not have a back story going into it since I skipped the first three books. However, I found this to be an enjoyable read.

There are ghosts lurking around Amberwood Hall. Some are friendlier than others and it's up to Lauren and her friends to figure out what's causing things to go awry at different times. When the big production at the end of the year is cancelled, there is suspicion as to who might be behind the reason.

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A Journey for Dorothy (The Reluctant Wagon Train Bride Series) by P. Creeden

 

A Journey for Dorothy by P. Creeden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dorothy has been a widow for just a few short years and she's not looking to get married again. She and Scout have made a decent life for themselves on their little piece of land. When Dorothy gets a letter from her sister, she decides that maybe she can make some changes in her life. Along her journey, she meets a man named Elias and together they forge a way to Oregon on the wagon train. Can their relationship sustain the rocky hills or will there be an annulment in the future?

I love books like this! Historical reads are my favorite and add that it's a clean read and it's a win-win! This was a fairly short read as well. Made for an enjoyable end to an evening!

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Murky Murder (A Maid Ivy Cozy Mystery Book) by Hazel Smith

 

Murky Murder by Hazel Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If I could read books like this everyday, I'd be in reading heaven!! I absolutely loved this book! First of all, it's a clean mystery read. I'd let my young daughter read this without any qualms. Second, it's witty and fun to read about Ivy and her new position at work. There is a budding romance that's very sweet to see develop. I was a little disturbed that Ivy referred to him as Mr. Humphrey, although he is her boss and this is a very new relationship.

Overall, a very enjoyable read! I'm going to be reading more by this author and in this series.

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Children of the Wild (Children of the Wild Series) by Krysta Tawlks

 

Children of the Wild by Krysta Tawlks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Each of us are born with differing traits that set us apart from each other. Elbert starts noticing things changing for him when he turns 14 years old. While his siblings seem completely normal, Elbert starts to notice feathers and a burning in his chest. What is his destiny? What is he to become as a person?

An enjoyable read with some points of humor along the way!

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A Christmas Amish Courtship (Amish Courtship Series) by Jennifer Spredemann

 

A Christmas Amish Courtship by Jennifer Spredemann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found myself wanting to know more of the story than this short novella provided, but at the same time, it was just the right amount of story.

Anne Eichner is alone again for yet another Christmas after her betrothed of 5 years decided to go Englisch. She starts receiving letters from someone who knows her but she is not given his identity. The letter says that after a year of corresponding, they will marry. This has Anne intrigued and she begins to write back to this stranger.

Andy Stoltzfus is a teacher looking to relocate back to the homeland and to be accepted back into the fold. He's currently between different homes and building another for himself and his soon to be bride.

Anne finds herself falling for Andy while still receiving mystery letters. She's soon going to have to make a decision that could end up hurting someone. Then her old beau comes groveling back to her. Whatever will she do?

I absolutely loved reading this story! It had been quite some time since I read a novel about the Amish and I've missed it! This made for a very enjoyable read on a quiet afternoon!

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Ghost Takes A Vacation (Genie and Adriana Darling Cozy Paranormal Ghost Mysteries Book 2) by Carmen Radtke

 

Ghost Takes A Vacation by Carmen Radtke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genie and her great-great aunt Adriana, who happens to be a ghost, are travelling to Italy. While there, they find themselves in the middle of a mystery that they would love to solve. There is an auction house that is holding onto some of Adriana's belongings and they are about to auction them off to the highest bidder. Genie plans to purchase as many items as possible, as those items help Adriana to maintain her connection to the present world. When a fire takes place and the location is deemed a total loss, not everything is adding up. It's up to Genie and Adriana to solve this mystery.

This was a fun read! I love Adriana, she's a hoot with all her antics! She talks to animals too, and they make great witnesses! While this is the second book in a series, this could be read as a standalone.

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