Murder in Prospect (An Eve Sawyer Mystery) by Jane Suen

 

Murder in Prospect: An Eve Sawyer Mystery by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is such a fun series to read and you just never know where Eve is going to end up next. She's in a mining town in Colorado when she begins to have suspicions about the recent death of a friend's uncle. Then, as what usually happens when Eve is around, another death occurs and Eve finds herself having to solve another mysterious murder.

A great book that will keep you entertained for a few hours!

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El Diablo (Jessica Watts Southwest Suspense Series) by Kathryn Dodson

 

El Diablo: A Jessica Watts Southwest Suspense Novel by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

It's been two years since we meet Jessica in Tequila Midnight. She's in law school and working as a paralegal. Things are finally calming down with her and her husband Angus. Life is great...until a young girl confides in her that she's been touched in appropriately by a man in charge of an afterschool program.
Jessica is on the prowl to find out more information about this "man" and she will stop at nothing to preserve these precious young ladies. There are twists and turns and at times, you'll be on the edge of your seat reading how this book ends.

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Porter and Midge: Paws and Pastries A Kid’s Guide to Homemade Dog Treats (Porter and Midge Children’s Book Series) by Jennie Chen and Giselle Nevada

 

Porter and Midge: Paws and Pastries: A Kid's Guide to Homemade Dog Treats by Giselle Nevada
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fun book and one that you'll want to share with your kids. It's an interactive book, having both a story and then recipes to make treats for your favorite doggo!

Grab this book and then plan a time with the kiddos to read the short story and then incorporate cooking skills to make some treats! A great bit of educational fun for all!

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The Taste of Treachery by Emily Bybee

 

The Taste of Treachery by Emily Bybee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There is everything to love about this book! First of all, it's a military read and I love those! They are second in line to medical reads for me! Next, we have a suspenseful situation to deal with, followed with some romance to boot. There is also a female hacker, which is totally cool!

Super great read that will keep you wanting to read until you finish. Be warned, no breaks allowed while reading this one!

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Shadowed Storm: A Shadow Defense Security Thriller Book 4 (Shadow Defense Security Series) by Mavery Ellscott

 

Shadowed Storm by Mavery Ellscott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This entire series is a must read!! Each of these books *could* be read as stand alones, but you're cheating yourself if you don't read them all! There is an overarching theme that travels through each book, as well as several of the characters, so I highly recommend it.

There is non-stop action when Alexis discovers that her former research professor is about to unleash a strain of algae that could wipe out the world through the water supply. She will stop at nothing to confront him with this and try to put a stop to his actions. It's not long before Alexis learns that she's being pursued by people trying to stop her from stopping the exposure of this corruption.

Seb is an ex-Navy SEAL that is set out to protect Alexis on her endeavors. He's trying to keep her safe while she's worried about keeping him and his friends safe. They make a great team!

I want to talk about the ending but I won't because I don't want to ruin anything for anyone. However, Ms. Mavery Ellscott, if you are reading this, please get book #5 out ASAP! :)

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Ward D by Freida McFadden

 

Ward D by Freida McFadden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I knew when I read the synopsis of this book that I had to read the whole thing. I could have easily read this in one setting but life demanded other things in between chapters. After reading some reviews from other readers, I especially wanted to read this book, not because their reviews were awesome, but because they rated it so poorly! What?!?!

When I was in nursing school, we had to do a rotation in a psych unit. It was one of the most terrifying, yet fun times of my life. Just like Amy, we were taught that these are humans, not conditions, and that's how I saw this. Afterall, if you spend anytime in a psych unit, you will begin to wonder why you're not there yourself.

Some readers found the story to be ridiculous and overdone. I mean, in truth, that's a possibility considering that Ward D is on the 9th floor. Other floors above and below could have possibly heard the commotion, especially at night. But having worked in a hospital, and part of that time being at night, you don't always tune in to other things around you. What happened on Ward D could potentially happen in a hospital setting. Likely? Very low chances but it *could* happen.

I thought I had this figured out and I mostly did but I still enjoyed this read very much! This is only my second book by this author (I read The Teacher first) but I enjoy her style of writing!

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The Crown of Stones Trilogy Box Set (The Crown of Stones Series) by C. L. Schneider

 

The Crown of Stones Complete Trilogy by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have read this set of books at different times in 2023. It's now out as a trilogy set and I want to make sure you don't miss this series! I'll post my reviews here of each book in the trilogy. This series is worth the time to read!

Magic-Price 4 stars Read in 2023
In book 1 of this series, the reader is introduced to Ian Troy, a self-imposed exile. He's a Shinree and those of his kind are drawn to magic. They become addicted to the use of magic. Ian is different though, after a tragic event changes the course of his life forever.

This book is full of adventure, mystery, magic, and so much more. I loved the character Malaq as he brought some levity to the story.

Magic-Scars 4 stars Read in 2023
It's two years later and Ian Troy wakes up in a prison cell. He's been tortured and drugged, all to keep him from using his magic. Little did he know the price he'd have to pay for all this magic!! There are a lot of people wanting or needing him to be free so he's not without some help.

I struggle to write reviews on epic books because I never want to give anything away. Just know that you should read this but be prepared for the journey ahead!

Magic-Borne 4 stars Read in 2023
Ian Troy is at his lowest low. The entire realm is falling apart and he's the only one who can do anything about it. Or can he?

This book features elements of time travel and hallucinations. I find that difficult to process when reading (or even in watching something). I struggled with keeping up with aspects of the story for this reason.

This is a series that definitely needs to be read in order as there is too much information carried over from previous books in this series. Fantasy adventure readers will love this series and hope for more!

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Rock Crush and Roll by Hunter Snow

 

Rock Crush and Roll by Hunter Snow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

Hunter Snow is a debut author with a background in the music industry that she shares in the writing of this romantic comedy.

This book is set in Canada so some of the geographical settings were unknown to me, as I'm not super familiar with the layout of that country(note...expand horizons!). I tried to not let that affect the story as I went along. One thing I know about Canada though is hockey, and this book had some of that! I also enjoyed the music references throughout the story. If you're a fan of 70's-80's styles of music, you'll enjoy the trip down memory lane!

Overall, a decent debut novel.

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Word Play by Tricia Gardella

 

Word Play by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's Joe's first day of school and he's so excited to learn to read. He spells his name in his morning cereal before heading out for what's bound to be an exciting day. He gets to school and his teacher starts telling them all about where to put their things. They have a lesson on colors. They go out to recess. Joe's wondering when he'll get to learn to read! He goes on an adventure and meets a kind woman named Bea...not Bee...who teaches him a lesson.

Great story and one that kids will love, just as long as they don't become Joe on their first day of school! The illustrations in this book are also very well done.

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Falling for a Star in the City (Stars in the City Series) by Krysten Lindsay Hager

 

Falling for a Star in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

This is a sweet, second chance romance that involves a bit of a love triangle. This is geared more towards young adults but us more seasoned folks can find some moments of enjoyment in this as well. My favorite part is the hockey aspect, as I'm a huge fan and love reading stories about hockey players.

An enjoyable read for a quiet day!



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G is for Gossamer: A Children’s SMART & SOPHISTICATED ABC’s Book by Miss Whitaker

 

G is for Gossamer: A Children's SMART & SOPHISTICATED ABC's Book by Miss Whitaker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The illustrations in this book are absolutely breathtaking! The colors are very vibrant and the pictures look like they could pop off the page!

I also love how this isn't a typical ABC book. The words....they are long and beautiful and can be used to teach new vocabulary! I was trying to pick a favorite letter but I love them all in this book! Actually, I really like "H", "I", and "P". There is a listing of definitions in the end for those words that might be difficult. I had to look to be sure I understood a couple of them.

This is a must-have for your home library. Homeschooling families will especially appreciate the depth of the vocabulary!

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Be My Little Baby (London Detective Agency Series) by Stephanie R. Caffrey

 

Be My Little Baby by Stephanie R. Caffrey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is all about chemistry! There is the chemistry of baking and then there is the chemistry between Tessa and James!

Tessa is hoping that her little bakery will bring about a lot of business, as she's new to the area and wanting to do well. She never expected for things to progress as quickly as they have, and on top of that, there are some very threatening photographs and letters that could damage her business and reputation. That's where James steps in. He's a private investigator that is easy on the eyes. He won't date a client though but could Tessa find a way to his heart through her baking?

This is the second book in a series. This can be read as a standalone but why not go back and pick up the first one?! You'll see some characters from the previous book make an appearance in this one.

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Where’s Gramma? by Tricia Gardella

 

Where's Gramma? by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gramma is quite the adventurous gal! She wants to show her family all the places that she can be found and, in the process, they discover what a fun-loving, free spirit she is! She's also not afraid of hard work!

A cute book to share with your littles while they are curled up in your lap!

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The Queen’s Dance (Heart & Hand Series Book 2) by Nicole E. Kelleher

 

The Queen's Dance: A Sizzling Slow Burn Fantasy Romance by Nicole E. Kelleher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Allow yourself to get swept up in this great read!! It's obvious that a lot of time and attention to detail have gone into writing this epic fantasy read. There is a play on words in the title, even though it's not to a depth that I would have thought. There is mystery, intrigue, lore, and of course, romance to keep you captivated from the first to last words!

This is the second book in a series. This can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend going back and reading the first book as well!

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Oscar and Emmy Visit Grandma (Oscar and Emmy Series) by Terri Sabol

 

Oscar and Emmy Visit Grandma by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's time for the family to go on a cruise and unfortunately, pets are not allowed. While most people might board their pets with a trusted pet sitter, Oscar and Emmy are able to go to Grandma's for the week! They are not fond of the car ride and find themselves a little scared when first arriving at Grandma's, but find that it's not so bad and they have an enjoyable week!

This is another fun read in this series of books about pets. A great way to share more stories with your littles!

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Oscar and Emmy Visit the Vet (Oscar and Emmy Series) by Terri Sabol

 

Oscar and Emmy Visit the Vet: A book to explain how visiting the vet with your pets can be fun! by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoy reading this series about Oscar and Emmy!! In this book, they are going to the vet for their yearly checkups. Everything goes well and the family even learns some interesting facts about cats and dogs!

This would be a great book to read with littles before taking their furry friends to the vet for the first time. It will give them an overview of what happens at the vet and could help alleviate any anxieties they may have about their pet going to the doctor.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Art of Deception (Notebook Mysteries Series) by Kimberly Mullins

 

Notebook Mysteries ~ Art of Deception by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is such a fun series to read and this one continues that enjoyment! Based on an actual crime that took place in the at the turn of the 20th century, Emma and Jeremy are embroiled in yet another mystery. They have a family now so that is complicating a few matters but it won't stop them! There are secrets, mysteries, some laughter and even a bit of romance to keep the reader entertained!



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The End Of Try Try Again by Kristen Carter, MS

 

The End of Try Try Again: Overcome Your Weight Loss and Exercise Struggles for Good by Kristen Carter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a rather interesting take, and one that I can get behind, on how to approach weight loss and exercise struggles. For most of my life, I've had a struggle with weight and I viewed it from the standpoint that it was all just in the food I was eating. This author takes a look at, and encourages the reader to also take a look from the inside out. How does motivation influence our choices? There is also a focus on baby steps and not just jumping in with both feet and expecting to thrive. Overall, a good book with some pointers that I plan on implementing myself.

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