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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