A Tall Tale: How the Ostriches Got Their Long Necks and Long Legs (Stephanie's Stories) by Scott Sollers

 

A Tall Tale: How the Ostriches Got Their Long Necks and Long Legs by Scott Sollers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's a tale of two towns that are very different from each other. One town is lush and vibrant while the other one barren and practically lifeless. Chief Nobody and Chief Somebody were at odds with one another. Chief Somebody and his Have-Alls had pets called Squatz and Chief Nobody and his No-Haves have no pets at all. A plan is hatched for the No-Haves to steal the Squatz from the Have-Alls and what ensured was a competition of will and a lot of stretching. Thus, Squatz became Ostriches.

This is a cute book that kids will likely love for the humor in the story. It's definitely a true TALL tale!

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Adventures at Lake Omigosh (Stephanie's Stories Series) by Scott Sollers

 

Adventures at Lake Omigosh by Scott Sollers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Camp Horizon is just for kids, no parents allowed (although the pictures do depict adults!). It's a fun summer camp for kids to get away and give their parents a break. Around a campfire, they learn that Lake Omigosh got it's name because a mysterious turtle like creature has been seen in the lake and when people see it, they say "Oh My Gosh!". The name stuck. Felix and Harry decide to take a boat out one day. There are three rules that must always be followed and in their haste, Felix and Harry don't follow any of them. What happens next will have them saying, "Oh My Gosh!".

I enjoyed this book but I took off a star because I feel the ending was very rushed. There could have been many more details added but it seems like it just stopped very abruptly. I feel that a child reading or hearing this story might also feel the same way.

The illustrations are very well done in this story. Bryan Janky, the illustrator, deserves a shout out for the vivid depictions of the scenes that he created for this book!

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Ellie's Dancing Shoes (Stephanie's Story) by Scott Sollers

 

Ellie's Dancing Shoes by Scott Sollers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes all you need is confidence, and that is especially true of Ellie. Her whole life's dream was to become a ballerina. She gave up time hanging out with her friends to rehearse the steps she needed to take to be a famous dancer. A lot of the time she ended up on the floor though. One day her parents heard her sobbing and gifted her a pair of magical ballet slippers from her grandmother. All of a sudden, Ellie was dancing well and she was excited. That is, until the day she lost her slippers right before a huge audition. How would she ever be accepted without her magical slippers?

This was a nice read and can show how a little confidence can go a long way.

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Lethal Fortune (Jake Wolfe Thriller Series #9) by Mark Nolan

 

Lethal Fortune by Mark Nolan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you've been following along with this series, this is book 9 and each one just keeps getting better!! Jake is wanting to get his winery up and running but, like always, there is a monkey wrench in his plans. This book has many twists and turns involving crime, murder, a ruthless motorcycle gang, and an adorable K9 named Cody. Just when you know what's going to happen next, a new twist comes in the story goes into a different direction all together.

Stay along with Jake and Cody and I can't wait to see what comes next with them!

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Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter

 

Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a sweet read about Sophia and Aiden and their second chance at love. They dated back in high school but parted ways eventually. Sophia raised her siblings after the passing of their mother and is just now getting to a place of doing what she's been wanting to do....open a bookstore. When Sophia's sister announces that she's getting married, Sophia is excited for her and then finds out that Aiden is the best man. What are the odds that they might have that second chance?

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Needles, the Forgotten Christmas Tree by Richard Wagner

 

Needles, the Forgotten Christmas Tree by Richard Wagner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is about the power of never giving up. Needles was teased and taunted by the bigger trees in the lot. He always vowed to stand up taller but he was still shorter and had fewer branches than the others. He was the last tree on the lot when he was delivered to a family who subsequently put him on the curb. A sweet young girl named Emily and her mom see Needles and take him home for their tree. Needles had a very important job to do now and he was going to be the best Christmas tree ever!

This is a super cute book that can be read anytime of the year but especially around the Christmas holidays. It has a great message of perseverance!

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Look! There are No Dinos Inside of This Book (Look No See Series) by Jimmy Vee

 

Look! There Are No Dinos Inside Of This Book by Jimmy Vee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dangerous Dave will have the kiddos laughing as they try to explain to him that there are, in fact, dinos inside of this book! This is a super fun, rhyming, interactive story that will have the kids pointing to the obvious while Dangerous Dave is trying to convince them otherwise.

A great book for a preschool or kindergarten class up to around 2nd grade. It's fun to read out loud to them but would be great to have them read it to you as well!

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The King's Gold (Kingdom of Mir) by Lois Wickstrom

 

The King's Gold by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great story from Lois Wickstrom! In this story, the King's goblet is missing. He tasks Wynnie, his young advisor, to locate it. Wynnie pretty much already suspected where it was and she quickly found the goblet. Before she'd let the King have it back, she asked a series of questions and established a new relationship between the King and a thief.

This is a great story to read aloud or have read to you. Kids will love the dragon and the story!

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Finding Cleo: A Sensual Romantic Suspense by Jennifer Raines

 

Finding Cleo: A Sensual Romantic Suspense by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am a fan of Jennifer Raines and this book did not disappoint! It has everything you'd want in terms of emotions: happiness, sadness, worry, regret, love, anger, and the list goes on! She spends a good deal of time getting you emotionally invested in the lives of her characters to the point that you feel like they may be your next door neighbor. Then you just can't help but be sucked into the story and before you know it, a few hours have passed by and your done reading the story. This one is no exception!

Let's talk about this book cover first though....it's gorgeous! I love the setting and the colors. Book covers often times don't get enough credit. While I realize that they are rarely in the control of the author, they deserve some love too!

Cleo is doing everything she can to live her life without her father, who was "accidentally killed" while doing some research. For all intents and purposes, she's without her mother too but by choice after she moved on with her life and another man.

Jack is interested in the unsolved mystery of a Scandinavian man and soon learns the whereabouts of his daughter. He's interested in pairing up with her to see if they can put this mystery to bed....but Jake's also trying to see what, or who else, he can put to bed.

There are twists and turns, ups and downs and Cleo and Jack seek out answers about Cleo's dad. They learn more about each other and have an undeniable attraction that needs to be investigated as well.

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The Forgotten Garden: A Children's Chapter Book about Kindness, Teamwork, and the Magic of Pollinators by G Pa Rhymes

 

The Forgotten Garden: A Children's Chapter Book About Kindness, Teamwork and the Magic of Pollinators by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anytime I pick up a G Pa Rhymes book, I know I'm in for a great story! This one was a little longer than others I have read but it's such a fun adventure to be on! G Pa Rhymes and his friends from the Boardwalk find a bottle with a note in it. They soon discover that there is a Forgotten Garden that needs attention. They spend some time locating this garden and along the way picking up new friends and solving riddles.

This is a great book to read aloud to younger ones or would be a great nighttime chapter read for a budding reader. There are a lot of rhymes and riddles and we see the characters from other books come into the scene.

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Reign of Fear (Fearless Book 4) by Glede Browne Kabongo

 

Reign of Fear by Glede Browne Kabongo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked this one up because the back synopsis grabbed me from the get-go. Then I saw it was book 4 of a series, and the last book for that series at that. I almost put it back but decided to give it a go and I'm so glad that I did. This can be read as a stand-alone, although you miss some history with the characters involved. That just entices me to go back and read the previous stories in this series!

Abbie and Kristina have some long-standing history between them. They haven't seen each other in years and that's probably for the best. You see, Kristina was madly in love with the man Abbie is married to. As soon as she saw the ring, Kristina vowed revenge.

Abbie is cool, calm, and collected just as any neuropsychologist should be and since she and Ty have married and started a family, Abbie is all about protecting them at all costs. Kristina is a bit of a hot head and really underestimates the lengths that Abbie is willing to go.

This story filled with rage, anger, jealousy, and so much more will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are twists and turns around every corner and your mind will be questioning your choices should you have been in the book. It's one to plan to read marathon-style so get your drinks and snacks ready before you settle in and have to finish before you quit!

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Just Desserts and Murder: A Temperance Matthews Cozy Mystery (Little Bakery Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Lucinda Race

 

Just Desserts and Murder: A Temperance Matthews Cozy Mystery by Lucinda Race
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love a good introduction to a new author and this is apparently the start of a new series too!
Temperance Matthews has dreamed for years of opening a bakery in the beautiful Oak Hollow. One day that dream came to fruition, but it was so very short lived. Her bakery goes up in flames and a body is found on site. It's bad enough that she lost her dream bakery, but she soon learns that her assistant has lost her boyfriend, as he was the victim. Another person was stabbed too! A lot of questions start to swirl and it's not long before the Temperance finds herself leaning on her background in the FBI. How can she ever prove who did this?

This is such a fun, cozy read! I love Hank, Temperance's dachshund dog and faithful companion. The story will keep you engaged and I'm very excited for the next adventure for these two. While this is the first book in the series, the author has already let us know that these books can be read as standalones.

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The Magic Maze Trilogy by Samuel Warren Joseph and Phil Proctor

 

The Magic Maze Trilogy by Samuel Warren Joseph
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a super fun trilogy to read! It's my first experience with these authors but I'll be looking for more of their works for sure!

Tyler & Tess in the Magic Maze (Book 1)
In this story, we are introduced to Tyler and Tess, 11 year old twins. They are on their way to a soccer game when they are sucked into a magical maze. This story is full of adventure, twists and turns, and lessons to learn! I love this book as it's got me excited to read the next one and we're meeting new characters at the end of this story!

Madness in the Magic Maze (Book 2)
Tyler and Tess are trying to solve challenging puzzles in order to be able to go home. It's a combination of wit, smarts, and sometimes luck to crack these codes. It's always best to do things like this with someone you know and love as teamwork is such a huge part of it!

Escape From the Magic Maze (Book 3)
The last book in our trilogy features another challenging maze for Tyler and Tess. It's a race against time to solve the puzzles in order to make it home. With teamwork, humor, and their smarts, can the twins make it back to their home sweet home?

This series is so much fun to read! It's like Alice in Wonderland meets Wizard of Oz, and goes in the Labryinth and ends at Narnia! I love the humor, as well as the complexity of the mazes. Just when you think you have it figured it out, you learn that you haven't. These stories are meant for people aged 7-12 but truthfully, they are great for all ages.

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Live Big with Catch-M: The Gift of Love's Wondrous Spark in Your Heart by Kat Kronenberg

 

Live Big with Catch-M: The Gift of Love’s Wondrous Spark in Your Heart by Kat Kronenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

I absolutely loved the visual brilliance of this story! The colors pop off the page and really add to the depth of the message. The illustrations get a full 5 stars from me.

The story itself wasn't necessarily a favorite of mine but I do appreciate the message. I'm not sure what it was that turned me off from this because I do believe that a person needs to input more positive than negative and the affirmations help to ward off the negative. I can't quite put my finger on the "why" for my not enjoying this as much as I would have hoped.



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Lane and the Inventor by Amy Q. Barker

 

Lane and the Inventor: Small town, second chance, sweet and steamy romance by Amy Q. Barker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a part of a series but can easily be read as a standalone.

If you're looking for a slow-burn romance that is full of deep emotion, this one's for you! It's a beautiful story of Logan and Lane. An adventurer and a recluse. A story of love lost and found. Some steamy moments, some tender moments, and sometimes you just want to smack someone moments.

Curl up and enjoy this story and come back for more of Ms. Barker's work!

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The Family Business by Kimberly Mullins

 

The Family Business by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kimberly Mullins is at is again with another great story! I love how she incorporates characters from her Notebook Mystery series into this story. She also introduces a few new friends!

This book focuses on the prohibition area with John and his family. Their ties are in New York, Chicago, and California and the family is going in separate directions with their unique businesses. How can they keep the family business(es) growing while facing all these new regulations?

There are some plot twists that keep you on the edge of your seat while you read this fast paced novel. Even though Ms. Mullins's stories have intertwining characters, these stories can be easily read as stand alones.

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I Love You by Rosalind Barden

 

I Love You by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very sweet story with a cuddly looking creature. A great book for lap reading or to have read to you. A beautiful way to remind others of your love for them!

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Chasing Roses by Jean M. Grant

 

Chasing Roses by Jean M. Grant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Four unlikely people, each experiencing dramatic life circumstances, team up to solve an interesting scavenger hunt in the beautiful New England countryside. Friendships will be formed, relationships will be tried and tested, and a prize will be awarded to the team of 4 who can successfully complete the scavenger hunt first. This story kept me engaged and I loved the characters. I felt like I was part of this team and their adventures. I recommend this great read!

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