Life Flight by Lynette Eason

 

Life Flight by Lynette Eason
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Penny is a helicopter pilot who works for the local EMS services. Many people rely on her flying skills to get them the medical help they need quickly and safely. Penny is one of the best out there and she has a great team to work with as well!

A call comes in that will change Penny's life forever. The weather is atrocious and she argues with her director that it's not safe to fly. The director doesn't give her an option (well, he does but it involves her losing her job) so she flies out to the site to pick up the victim. On the way to the hospital, things start to fail on the "bird" and Penny has to make an emergency landing. Little does she know that she's landed on a mountain top and that a serial killer is loose in the same area. With no way to communicate with base, Penny leaves her team caring for the patient and she begins to walk to find someone that can help her. She finally is able to secure a satellite phone and call in for help. On her way back to the bird, however, she encounters who she believes to be the serial killer. Life gets a lot more interesting then and so does this story!

We follow Penny throughout her ordeal with Rabun and the many ways he tries to come after her and those she loves. With the help of FBI Special Agent Holt, is it possible that Penny and her team can put an end to all the killings?

This is a very fast-paced read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Don't eat while reading this though as there are some gruesome scenes described that might turn your tummy! I am looking forward to reading even more in this series!

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Cray Saves the Day (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes

 

Cray Saves the Day by G. Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very vividly visual read about the importance of not littering at the beach. The story is good for any location but this one is specifically about the beach. There is mention of a turtle being trapped in the rings from soda cans and how Cray helped the turtle out. A great way to teach kids of any age the importance of cleaning up after themselves and not wreaking havoc on the environment around them!

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Fade into the Night (Philly Heat Series) by Becky Flade

 

Fade Into the Night by Becky Flade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm not going to say a lot about this book because I don't want to give anything away. I absolutely love the character of Noah and really felt for him, especially when he opened up about his family. I wasn't such a huge fan of Sadie though. I wanted to like her but found her almost annoying at times. I get that she was going through some immense things but really didn't appreciate the way she acted towards Noah. That being said, I can also see why she acted towards him the way that she did.

This book is full of twists and turns! I love a book that has you guessing. I did figure out fairly early who I though the Beltway Romeo might be and I was correct. That doesn't happen often but I guess I picked up on a few things that I don't normally. I was on the edge of my seat for the last half of this book and couldn't put it down until I finished it!

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Nessie and the Viking Gold (Nessie’s Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah

 

Nessie and the Viking Gold by Lois June Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This has been my least favorite book by this author so far, but it's still an enjoyable story.

Everyone's favorite rock star is in town for a big concert. However, when Craig and his sister go back to visit with Nessie, they learn that all the drumming is causing issues in Nessie's grotto. Can they stop the concert and save the grotto before it's too late?

It was a good story but it did seem to lack some plot development. This is the second book in this series and I have read the first one prior to this one. This is a book that is a bit longer than most of this author's style of books as well, so maybe that's a bit why. I would still recommend this book to be read by young readers or reading it to younger listeners.

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Sasha Smart by Shermaine Perry-Knights

 

Sasha Smart: Short Stories for Girls by Shermaine Perry-Knights
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

Sasha is a great girl who, like many teen girls, is a little short on confidence. This book focuses on how Sasha can use her inner strength to become a better person. There are several short stories that cover everything from peer pressure, bullying, and accepting oneself.

What I loved about this book is that Sasha *is* a strong person. She loves science and she's really smart. She has great friends who really care for her. She's a caring person herself.

What I didn't like so much about this book is that it was written to look like Sasha could only get these important attributes that she was struggling with from her friends. While friends are VERY important, they are not the only way that she could have grown from these experiences. There was little interaction with family, and they can be the strongest influence. I would have liked to seen a stronger family bond written about in this book. There was some, but I feel like a story about her mom, dad, grandma/grandpa, aunt/uncle could have made this story much better.

This would be a great gift idea for a young teen girl. The stories are very short (3-4 pages each) and there are some pictures included.

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Portrait of Deception (A Southwest Suspense Novel) by Kathryn Dodson

 

Portrait of Deception by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

Do you ever find yourself yelling at the literary characters you are engaging with during a great read? I was hollering "NO!" at Margo pretty much from the very beginning of this story but she just didn't listen to me!!! Because she didn't listen to my pleas of "NO!", "Don't drink that!", "Don't go there!", Margo ended up in a heap of trouble. Margo is a photographer who is looking at winning a huge award that will make her even more noticeable in the world of photography. One thing leads to another and she finds herself in the castle of a psycho wanna be dictator. All of a sudden, she's not sure who she can trust and she may have put her trust in a man who could ruin her even more than the dictator. After a daring escape, Margo still finds herself looking over her shoulder, as well as those of her loved ones.

This is a good one!! Lots of action, travel, and a little romance in this, among some major backstabbing and plans of war. Not a dull moment in this read and I had to finish it in one setting!

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Song of Earth and Claws (Faelands Series) by Lena Abram

 

Song of Earth and Claws by Lena Abram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a world where slavery and death are on the line, Lannahi is going to have to fight for her kingdom and her freedom. She is the youngest sibling of 3, and her siblings are, well to put it mildly, jerks. They don't really care about her outcome. She thinks she's in love with this guy until his true colors come to light and he enchants her, to the point that if she does not comply, death will be her outcome. To get out from under his spell, she must participate in the Moon Games. These games are held monthly and there are strict rules. Not everyone plays by the rules though. Lannahi is going to need some help from an ally, but who can really be trusted?

This was an interesting and fun read. There is lots of adventure, fantasy, some romance, and power grabs. I love the time and attention the author took to developing the characters. While it did slow down the pace of the book a bit, it was much needed and appreciated!

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In Honor's Defense (Hanger's Horsemen #3) by Karen Witemeyer

 

In Honor's Defense by Karen Witemeyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked up this book from my local library's online reading app. I absolutely love Karen Witemeyer books and knew this one would not disappoint! I have not read the previous books in this series but felt comfortable diving into this one. It can be read as a standalone but I have to know more about Hanger's Horsemen so you can bet I'll be going back and reading the other two, plus any to follow!

Damaris....I love her name! She's a rather unattractive woman in her mid twenties who is caring for her elderly Great Aunt when a letter comes informing her of her brother's demise. She also learns at that time that her nephew, Nathaniel, has been left in her care. Damaris packs up her life in St. Louis and moves to Texas to be with the teenage boy who's now lost both of his parents.

Luke Davenport was born a fighter and will probably fight until his last breath. He is a member of Hanger's Horsemen and has been hired by a Mr. Grimes to help investigate the case of his missing cattle.

Damaris and Luke meet under rather unfortunate circumstances (at least for Damaris!) but they form a bond that is unlike any that either of them have experienced before. There are perils, heartache, sub par food, fires, a teenage boy, books, and more that bring them together in some fairly unique circumstances. Their love for the Lord will see them through all of these circumstances though!

I loved this book and struggled to put it down. When I did have to put it down for a bit, I thought about what life might have been like in this fictional story. I love how Luke didn't focus on Damaris's physical appearance, but rather her heart. It's a very touching story that I found myself tearing up over at times. Other times I laughed, then I'd get mad. I hope there will be more stories in this series and I'm going back to catch up on the stories that I've missed! I'd love to see the wives get a series too!! (**HINT HINT**)

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Meet William the Worm!

 It's been a minute since I've posted new crochet items. I finished this adorable little worm with this apple tonight. 

Isn't it just adorable?!?! He looks so cozy inside his apple! 

But he can also hang out outside of his apple too!! 

William would make a great gift for a favorite teacher! He'd also look great sitting on a doctor's desk! 

You know what they say, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!" 

To purchase William or any other creations that I make, click here. 

A New Day for Cray (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes

 

A New Day For Cray by G. Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cray is a crabby crab until one day an (un)fortunate accident occurs. Cray is all of a sudden not so crabby and Ray, Hay, and Fay enjoy their friendship even more!

Super cute book that is full of rhymes. A great lap book for grandparents or parents with their littles! Very colorful and engaging illustrations as well!

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It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover

 

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

After reading It Ends with Us, I felt like there needed to be some sort of redemption for Atlas. I'm so glad that he got his own story in this book!! This book is a much lighter read than the previous one and it is so much more enjoyable!! I didn't find myself wanting to hide my eyes as much as the trauma from the first book could be overwhelming at times. This story needed to be told and I'm glad that the author listened to her readers to develop this one.

I'll never be a fan of Ryle's, nor will I ever make excuses for him. I hope that readers will realize that someone can be rehabilitated *if they choose to be* but if they have no desire to change, that it will never happen.

Hearing Josh's story totally ripped my heart out after all the Atlas has been through. Atlas is the real hero of this entire series!!

Overall, I'm very pleased with how this all ended! Make sure you read this series in order though (which will seem very backwards because of the titles) or you'll be sorely disappointed!

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Kingdom of 7 Sovereigns - Wolf (Kingdom of 7 Sovereigns Series) by R. C. Reigh

 

Kingdom of 7 Sovereigns: Wolf by R.C. Reigh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let's start out by taking a second to admire the cover of this book. It's absolutely gorgeous!!

In this slightly comical at times fantasy read, we hear from 4 young teens who are in their inaugural year at the Bastion Academy. There are wolves, fairies, witches, dragons, vampires, ogres, and humans involved in this story, with this one really focusing on Prince Dane, who is a wolf, and Princess Amelia, a human. They are fated to each other and their parents arranged their marriage when they were still wee babes.

There is a lot of action, some comedic relief, enemies-to-friends, and even a budding romance or two in this amazing tale. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series and seeing how things progress for all these teens. I highly recommend this read and so far, it's my favorite read of 2024!!

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Deja Brew All Over Again: A Runaway Bride Romance (Love on Tap Series) by Sylvie Stewart

 

Deja Brew All Over Again: A Runaway Bride Romance by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Miller finally gets his own story and it's about time. Over the past two books, we've learned a little about him but now he gets the spotlight and boy does it start out pretty interesting!

Miller just managed to walk out of the courthouse, elated that he got fined and some community service hours to do. He was fully expecting to find himself in the slammer. Instead, as he's pulling away, a fluffball of white jumps into his car and demands he start driving away. He now has a runaway bride on his hands! Whatever is he going to do with this beautiful creature that is inhabiting the small confines of his car?

Well, being the ....er....respectable man that he is, Miller takes her where she directs him. He's enamored by her though and realizes she works fairly close to the bar where he works with his brothers. Needless to say, he is hoping he will see more of her....and he does.

Maisy's story is pretty interesting as well. She's running away from a marriage of convenience but moreso convenient for her father and not so much for her. She's also worried about her little brother Bear and the life that he's currently living. She finds solace in the Miller's family home and then finds herself in a dilemma that she's not sure she can get out of.

This rom-com is a fun little read. The language is a bit strong and I almost put it down but I'm already invested in this family from the previous two books. This book can be read as a standalone but could be more enjoyable by knowing some back story on the other family members. Lynn's story is next and I look forward to reading more about her, as she's been a pretty silent character up to this point.

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The Round Box (Grandma’s Closet) by Lois Wickstrom

 

The Round Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carrie's Grandma has moved across town but she left four boxes in Carrie's house labeled "KEEP". Anytime Carrie is missing her Grandma, she'll go looking through those boxes. Each box she picked up felt like another but she finally decided upon one. When she opened it, there was a fascinator that resembled a ship. Once she put it on, she was on an adventure!

These books are great and should be in every library! This is a great opportunity to talk with a youngin' about what a fascinator is. Honestly, I hadn't heard that term until I became more interested in "royal life" and started watching shows and reading about them. This is also a sweet story about the love and influence of a grandparent.

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Master of the Abyss (Painted Souls Series Book 3) by Rob Samborn

 

Master of the Abyss by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm a little sad to see this amazing series come to an end!! I am so glad that I gave this series a chance. As previously mentioned in other reviews, I struggle with dual time line stories. This author made it so easy for me to follow the story and I almost felt like I was in the story myself at times!

It's up to Julia and a few of her close friends to save Nick from this eternal purgatory that he's found himself in. The Order is just not going to let him walk away from the deeds that he's done, or that they think he's done.

This book is just as full of action and adventure as the previous books. It's vital that these be read in order to preserve the storyline and to have it make sense. If you love historical based reads, grab this one. If you like that this is also a bit of a thriller, it will only enhance your reading experience more. I will be adding this author on my list of those to watch out for because his writing is extremely enjoyable to me!!

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Painter of the Damned (Painted Souls Series Book 2) by Rob Samborn

 

Painter of the Damned by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's very important to read these books in order to understand the context of what's happening.

This book picks up right where Book 1 (The Prisoner of Paradise) left off. Nick and Julia are still trying to get back home when they are sent back to Venice. The Order is not about to let them get away with what they think is important information.

There is a lot of action and adventure in this story as well! There are a few twists and turns that I did not see coming. I really enjoy this author's writing and look forward to reading more great stories of his!

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The Prisoner of Paradise (Painted Souls Series Book 1) by Rob Samborn

 

The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nick is an avid hockey player. One wrong move though and he found himself sidelined with a head injury that he is in denial over. When an opportunity for the trip of a lifetime to Venice comes along, Nick and his wife Julia are excited. Julia is concerned that it might be too much for Nick though. Eventually, they make the journey where Julia has an opportunity to write for a prestigious publication but they are going to soak up as much as tourists can while on a working vacation. When they visit an art gallery and see Tintoretto's Paradise, things start to get a little interesting for Nick. He soon finds himself embroiled in a mystery that is over 400 years old with a need to release trapped souls.

This book is one that I wasn't sure I would enjoy but I wanted to give it a chance and I'm so glad that I did. Normally, I struggle with dual time-line stories but this one was written in a way that didn't affect me like others have in the past. I was engrossed in this story from word one page one. I'm super excited about other stories in this series! I love the mystery, intrigue, and the historical aspects of this adventure.

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Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

 

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tate is having to move in with her brother. Upon her arrival, her brother is not there but she meets his friend Miles. Boy is he something else! Tate can't even get into the door for his lug of a body! They have a rocky start but it's a very brief "start" before life takes off for both of them. Miles has a lot of baggage to unpack (at least 6 years of it) and Tate does her best to help. I'm not 100% certain that her "help" was in her best interest though. I found her to be a doormat and made women look bad. I wished she'd had more self-respect, but then again, that's what this book is about.

Overall, I enjoyed this book to the point that I had to stay up half the night reading it. I just couldn't put it down after getting about 20% in!

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The Scent of Snow (The Winemakers Series) by Giovanna Siniscalchi

 

The Scent of Snow: A Winemakers Novella by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The conclusion of this series comes to us in the form of this novella. Pedro and Anne have been married for a couple of years now and it's coming upon the Christmas season. Anne's family is coming to visit and Pedro is just overjoyed at their arrival (insert mass sarcasm here). Things have been going well for Anne and Pedro except for one thing....Pedro is refusing to give Anne the one thing she wants most. As the family starts to arrive, Pedro receives some unexpected news that will cause a shift in his demeanor and have Anne wondering what could possibly be up with him. Can Christmas be saved and the bridge that is gulfing this couple be mended?

It's another great historical read and one that still has me a little leery of Pedro. He's been growing on me since first meeting him in The True Purpose of Vines but I'm still not completely won over by him yet. I'm hoping his and Anne's story is not done yet and that they will make cameo appearances in future books.

This book can be read as a standalone. I would encourage you to read the entire series in order though so you have a good history of Pedro!

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Mission Improbable: Vietnam (A Blanche Murninghan Mystery) by Nancy Nau Sullivan

 

Mission Improbable: Vietnam by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a journey of finding lost family members and putting some to rest. When Jean approaches Blanche about traveling to Vietnam with her to help her find her mom, Blanche isn't prepared for what she might also find while there. Jean is keeping secrets and once they start to come out, Blanche learns even more about herself. There is mystery, intrigue, and suspense woven throughout this story and is sure to keep any mystery lover engaged.

My favorite part of this story is the re-telling of Cinderella. I really enjoyed that little tidbit. There is some history woven throughout this story too. A very good read that I would recommend.

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