Mouse's Twelve Days of National Park Christmas Visits (Mouse Traveler Series) by Tricia Gardella

 

Mouse's Twelve Days of National Park Christmas Visits by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fun take on the Twelve Days of Christmas with Mouse!! We get to travel to different national parks in the spirit of the twelve days of Christmas and learn more about different national parks. At the end of the book, there is an informational page with more historical information on some of the greatest places to visit on earth. Mouse takes us on an adventure that is also educational!

Not only is this a fun story, but it's also full of some vivid imagery to go along with it!

View all my reviews

Where the Night Takes Us (Fear-Death Experiences Series) by Robert Chazz Chute

 

Where the Night Takes Us by Robert Chazz Chute
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Where the Night Takes Us is a fantastic psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Dr. Simon Fethullah is a forensic psychologist who has helped to put away the Rainy Day Cannibal. What a name! That alone enticed me into this thriller where Dr. Simon, his wife, and the family dog Stefano, are encouraged to go to mountains to heal. I mean, who wouldn't want to go to the mountains and have some R&R time to decompress and move away from the recent situations he's been facing? Like all great thrillers, our madman just isn't going to relent and the good doctor get any rest. It's his life ambition to make sure that not only the doctor doesn't rest, but no one else in his circle does either.

What a great introduction to a new series!! It's hard to write a review on a book as good as this one without giving too much away. Just trust me when I say you should read it!

Can we also give some love to the illustrator of the book cover too!? I am totally loving it!!

View all my reviews

Fall by Tricia Gardella

 

Fall by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is all about the things of Fall. The leaves changing, the squirrels collecting nuts for hibernation through the winter, football, and so much more!! It's a great way to talk to young readers about the changes that the seasons go through, how that's normal, and things to look forward to.

The illustrations of this story are very well done also. They help to show the beautiful color changes as well as to illustrate in vivid imagery the events of the season.

My only disappointment is that hockey wasn't mentioned in this book!! LOL

View all my reviews

Middle C Learns a Music Lesson by Tricia Gardella

 

Middle C Learns a Music Lesson by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Middle C has had it. No one ever plays him right and he's tired of it. Percival does his best to hit middle C but this time, middle C escapes and goes on an adventure. Music just isn't the same now and in most places, music is now non-existent. Middle C realizes that he might have overreacted a bit (you think?!) and decides to go back to Percival. Sweet music relies on middle C and he just needed to be more patient and understanding about his complexity.

The illustrations in this book are phenomenal and go well with the story. I love how this book focuses on music and gives the younger generation a taste of how beautiful music can be when all the players (notes) work together.

View all my reviews

Bubbles in Autumn (Seasons with Bubble Girl) by Wanda Carter Roush

 

Bubbles in Autumn by Wanda Carter Roush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a timely read for this time of the year! There are bubbles all around and it's a joy to capture them in their beauty. This book reflects on the colors changing, the squirrels gathering nuts for the winter hibernation, the festivals that occur, and more. The overall theme is to not change to fit in, rather to fit in where you are!

My favorite part about this book is the vibrant illustrations! They are a perfect match to go along with the story and help the reader to envision what autumn looks like, especially if they live in an area where the colors don't change as much!

View all my reviews

Lucky Lin-Lin series of books by Lyn Lozano Galicia

 

Lucky Lyn-Lyn at Big School: An Inspiring Picture Book About Courage, Confidence, and the Power of Asking Questions by Lyn Lozano Galicia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lyn-Lyn and her sister Bing-Bing have just left the familiarity of their home in Manila and have moved to Happy Island to live on a farm. Gone are the loud sounds of the city and they are now replaced with the more calmer rural life. It's time for school to start and Bing-Bing is going to kindergarten while Lyn Lyn is going to "big school". The sisters are very close and can't image spending the day so far apart. An opportunity opens up and Lyn Lyn becomes very brave and asks an important question.

This book is about having confidence and not being afraid to ask questions. There are some neat activities in the back of the book as well for further engagment from the readers.

View all my reviews Lucky Lyn-Lyn's Big Idea: A Heartwarming Story About Entrepreneurship, Teamwork, and Believing in Yourself by Lyn Lozano Galicia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lyn-Lyn enjoys living in Manila and seeing the people in the marketplace. It gives her an idea to start her own business. The way that she goes about it isn't the most ethical and I wish she would have fixed this before the story ended (I feel like it was an unfinished part of this story that could have easily been fixed). She inspires her friends with her idea and together they begin to do good things.

This story is about having an imagination and not being afraid to try something new. I loved this book except for the unraveled end that I mentioned earlier.

View all my reviews Lucky Lyn-Lyn and the Halloween Mystery: An Illustrated Children’s Halloween Book About Curiosity, Imagination, and Mystery by Lyn Lozano Galicia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lyn-Lyn and her sister Bing-Bing are out on Halloween night. They see 2 people dressed all in white. It's getting to late to farm so the girls become concerned. They follow them for awhile and then suddenly they disappeared. The girls run home as quick as they can!! Over dinner their mother recants a similar story from earlier in the day.

This book is timely for the Halloween season and is all about imagination.

View all my reviews Lucky Lyn-Lyn and the Christmas Coins: An Illustrated Children’s Book About Honesty, Kindness, and Giving by Lyn Lozano Galicia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's Christmas time and Ling-Ling and her sister Bing-Bing love getting coins from Mr. Chu. He's their dad's best friend but ironically looks like Santa Claus. They go to visit him and they are given a Christmas coin. Bing-Bing went in her PJs because she was so excited to go!! Ling-Ling asks if they can go again but this time everyone dresses up. They get another coin from Mr. Chu, even though they'd already received one.

I feel like the mark was missed in this story. Ling-Ling should not have been greedy and wanting another coin. I feel like the message of this book is going to mislead the actions of others to follow in her steps.

View all my reviews Lucky Lyn-Lyn and the Brown River: An Illustrated Children’s Book About Courage, Confidence, and Trying New Things by Lyn Lozano Galicia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lyn-Lyn and Bing-Bing walk to school everyday and they love the sites and sounds of the farmland around them. It's the rainy season so they are sure to take their umbrellas with them to school. One day they come home and the stream that they walk through is brown. It also looks very deep. They become scared until a friend comes along and shows them that it's safe to cross and explains why the water is brown.



View all my reviews

The Nightingale Detective Agency: A 1920s cozy mystery with secrets worth killing for by Denise Devine

 

The Nightingale Detective Agency: A 1920s cozy mystery with secrets worth killing for... by Denise Devine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in a new series by a fairly new-to-me author! I've read one other book of hers but I'm excited about this new series.

This cozy read is set in the 1920's Prohibition era, Charlotte Van Elsberg is determined that she is going to be the first female private investigator. She gets the opportunity when a young debutante is found dead. This story is full of mystery, grit, suspense, and a good bit of tension too.

This was a fun afternoon read!

View all my reviews

The Fortress of Us by Diane Hester

 

The Fortress of Us by Diane Hester
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There was no hope in putting this book down for a break once I got started. It grabs you, sits you on the edge of your seat, and holds you there until you reach the end.

Kelsey is a neurodivergent who witnesses her mother's death. She then witnesses another death and ends up on the run. She's on a mission to save her friend while trying to deal with her grief and all the things that come with it. Did I mention she's only 8 years old??

There are so many twists and turns, unexpected and ones you can see coming. All the stages of grief were experienced while reading this and I'm still not quite over it. Just be sure to clear your day to finish this one because you won't be able to put it down.

View all my reviews

Andy the Admiral and the USS Shipshape by Mark C. Fava

 

Andy the Admiral and the USS Shipshape by Mark C. Fava
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Andy the Admiral takes his reader on a tour of the Navy ship that he is on. He speaks of the ways that a seaman should act, with manners, cleanliness, and more. He does so in a rhyming manner to make it more memorable for the younger reader or listener.

This would be a great book for a family with a new seaman who may be in training. It can give them a brief glimpse into the life of the Navy and might even inspire them to go into the Navy one day as well.

View all my reviews

Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by Paula Peckham

 

Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by Paula Peckham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Derek Norton is the lead singer for the rock band The Assassians. They've had a good 20+ year run but if they want to keep going, some things are going to need to change. Derek is told that a journalist will be joining them on this tour to help boost their social media presence and hopefully bring new life to their fan base. After the last journalistic fiasco, this is the last thing that Derek wants to do.

Andi Thompson is a recent divorcee and a newly empty nester. Wow, what a time in her life! Andi has been a journalist for years but her work has been underpaid and underappreciated. She gets an opportunity to tour with one of her favorite bands, The Assassians, and write a piece on them to help boost their audience and bring some new life to their music. However, with Andi, it's bombshell after bombshell in her life and she questions whether she should really do this or not. Trusting her gut on this one, she decides to jump in with both feet, not having any idea how she will be met.

Let's just say that the the initial meeting of Andi and the band was a bit frigid. It takes awhile to thaw out old thoughts and feelings, especially when you feel that this is so unnecessary. Time will prove some things actually are much different though. Will The Assassians be able to hang on to their current record deal and continue to build a fan base? Will Andi get the promotion she's been searching for?

I really enjoyed this story. It was billed to me as an inspirational romance, to which I agree that it is. However, there were some lines that got a little blurry for me in terms of the spiciness of this book. I would not hand this to a younger reader due to the nature of some of the content. As far as inspirational, yes it definitely has a focus on religious thoughts and quotes Bible verses. It is also a clean read in terms of their not being any inappropriate language (save the spiciness and being a little more graphic than most books of this genre tend to be). I don't believe I've read anything by this author before but I will be going back and checking out some of her other titles.

View all my reviews

The Celestial Shot (A True North Murder Mystery #3) by A.J. Ullman

 

The Celestial Shot by A. J. Ullman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A.J. Ullman does it again with another great true-crime style book. The setting is in Ohio in the 1970's and there is a murder at a diner where our favorite detectives are trying to enjoy a celebratory meal. So much for that! It's another fabulous who-dun-it story with action, adventure, and so much more!

Be sure to check out the other books in the series too! While each can be read as a standalone, you'd be cheating yourself to just read this one!

View all my reviews

Miz Country Goddess: A Cozy-Spicy, Second-Chance Country Music Romance by Cat Treadgold

 

Miz Country Goddess: A Cozy-Spicy, Second-Chance Country Music Romance by Cat Treadgold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A country music romance for a county music lover for myself was just what I needed. I was looking for an escape for a bit and walking down this road with Henry and Rina was perfect. Also, I'm a lover of second chances!

This book is a bit on the spicy side at times, just like a good country song sometimes happens to be. The ups and downs of the industry are hard on relationships and that's brought out in this story too.

Overall, an enjoyable read that I didn't really have to think too much about other than to just listen to the music the pages were providing.

View all my reviews

The Adventures of Curtis the Long-Necked Turtle: An Austrailian Wildlife Adventure About Bravery, Friendship, and Standing Up to Bullies by Sturt McEwan

 

The Adventures of Curtis the Long-Necked Turtle: An Australian Wildlife Adventure About Bravery, Friendship, and Standing Up to Bullies by Sturt McEwan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Curtis is setting out to explore the Austrailian Bush. He has so much to learn along the way and meets up with and makes some new friends who help him. He runs across some not so nice bullies along the way too but it's a learning lesson for him as well.

This is a great book to encourage kids to be brave, stand up for themselves, and to be kind to others.

The illustrations in this book are amazing as well!! The cover alone is eye-catching and gorgeous and just wait until you see the rest of the book!


View all my reviews

Her Own Legacy, Her Own Revolution, Her Own War (Château de Verzat #1-3) by Debra Borchert

 

Her Own Legacy by Debra Borchert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in a new series. This author has extensively reseached this time period and it's very evident!! Before we talk about the book though, can we all just take a few minutes and soak in the beauty of the cover? Oftentimes that's why I pick up a book and this was no exception.

Countess Joliette de Verzat would much rather be out and about and managing the family's vineyards and leave all the politics behind. Everyone depends on her for the family's fine wines but she's really got no stake in the inheritance unless her husband dies and leaves her a widow.

The women start to march during the Revolution and it's during this time that the rightful owner of the vineyards is located. Joliette's life is in danger. Can she count on being saved?

Such a great book full of rich history!! I loved every page of this story!!

View all my reviews

 

Her Own Revolution by Debra Borchert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in this series but it can easily be read as a standalone. Why would you want to do that though when this author has done massive amounts of research to make this story, while still a work of fiction, as historically accurate as possible? Don't cheat yourself out of another good read!

Women's rights are pretty non-existent in this man's world time. Geneviève doesn't care though and bends rules to attend University dressed as a man. Talk about a risky move, but especially when her father is the Prosecutor, responsible for sending people to the guillitine. A man she believes to be innocent is added to the execution list but doesn't stay on there long thanks to the help of Geneviève. Her life is now at risk but how many can she save?


View all my reviews

 

Her Own War by Debra Borchert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The amount of research that has gone into creating and writing this series is phenemonal!! It's one reason that this author stands out in her genre of historical fiction. She is truly a master of details, to the point that you feel like you are living in that time period while reading this story.

Geneviève LaGarde is being forced to make some of the hardest decisions of her life. Every choice she makes impacts the lives of hundreds of others along the way. Napeleon is in charge and being the tyrant that he is, life is beyond miserable for most alive. Land is confiscated, people are forced into servitude, and that's just the beginning. Geneviève isn't going to let him have his way anymore if she can do anything to help it.

A great story of love, determination, and a powerful woman coming up against a horrible government.

View all my reviews

The Architect of Deception by Debbie Baldwin

 

The Architect of Deception by Debbie Baldwin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a new-to-me author so I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I sat down to read (actually devour) this book. I planned to sit and read for a couple of hours and take a break for life but found myself reading this one all in one setting.

It starts off slow, simply because there is a lot of background information to be laid. Kinda like a real life murder investigation...it has to start out slow but also with a sense of urgency so that the culprit doesn't get away. However, when it picks up, WOAH NELLIE!!! I wasn't quite ready for that roller coaster ride just yet. I was still warming up but these characters were like, Nah, we're going!

I made a list, checked it a few times for my suspects and I was still wrong. Every time. Every turn of the page came a new revelation that had me second guessing everything. There are plot twists you never see coming, a couple were suspected, and the story is not near what I thought it would be. It was so much better than that!!

Read this one and thank me later. It does contain R rated content, so keep that in mind when picking this one up. I wasn't aware that it would be like this. If you can block all of that out, it's still a great story overall.

View all my reviews

The Wrong Time for Love (The Anderson Sisters Book 3) by Jennifer Raines

 

The Wrong Time for Love by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've enjoyed every story that has been woven by Jennifer Raines so far. This is a shorter read and like most of her stories, I found myself wanting her to write just one more chapter or two in this story. She writes very authentic, emotionally gripping stories that have you feeling like the characters are your friends or members of your own family. The story of Helen and Bluey is no different.

Both Helen and Bluey have experienced devastating losses in their lives. They aren't doing the best with coping with these losses, as is the case in many situations. Helen is trying to keep her head and her farm above water while Bluey is working to ease the pain. They find common ground but at what expense to their families?

Buckle up and plan on reading this one all in one sitting!!

View all my reviews

Flash Point (Pinegrove FB Novel #4) by Libby Kay

 

Flash Point by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Javi Ortiz is well known around Pinegrove. He's a firefighter and heats up relationships faster than a 5 alarm fire to move on to the next lady with his casual dating style. He's quite the ladies man but has recently decided he's ready to slow down and maybe even settle down.

Lola Peabody and her daughter are looking for a quiet, quaint town to live in. Lola is a photographer trying to get herself established in her new life. She's not looking for love or drama!

Pinegrove is a very small community so it's almost impossible not to run into the same people everyday. Lola and Javi seem to find each other all the time and it's soon just easier to get over denial of the feelings and let the relationship go where it will.

A great series and each book can be read as a standalone. Characters from previous books in the series do make small appearances so if you're curious about the relationships, be sure to read them all! You should just read them all anyway!

View all my reviews

The Bone Nest by Shanessa Gluhm

 

The Bone Nest by Shanessa Gluhm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a new-to-me author and boy was this a great introduction!!! The Bone Nest, first of all, the title grabbed my attention right away and I had to know what this was about. Then I read the synopsis and was like, how soon can I get into my comfy chair? I knew this was going to be a "read it until your finished, not quitting for nothing", kind of book! I wasn't wrong!

I do struggle with dual timeline stories whether it's in a book or a movie so that was a bit challenging for me at first until I got the rhythm of the story down. The way in which the author wrote this book though, wow...I felt like a part of the story, right along all the investigators, the attorneys, and the set of friends who have all gone their separate ways, some more eternal than others. There were times I wanted to throw my kindle, other times I was sobbing...I truly believe I went through the five stages of grief reading this book. I'm not mad about it either!

Do yourself a favor and block off an entire day, put on a pot of coffee or grab plenty of your favorite caffeinated beverages, put on your comfiest jammies and sit in your favorite chair and just dive in. Stay hydrated but food may have to wait until you can finish this fantastic story that will have you wondering, "what just happened here"?

View all my reviews

Second Chance Highway: A Sequel by Lori Keesey

 

Second Chance Highway: A Sequel by Lori Keesey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a bit surprising for me. It starts off in panic mode. Ginny is leaving an abusive relationship with just her daughter and a prayer. She sets off to her new life and there are twists and turns along the way. Then things start to calm down and there is a sense that Ginny is going to find her peace. That is, until more drama ensues, but this time a more welcomed drama. I almost gave up on this story at one point but I'm glad that I didn't because it turned out to be a very good read. Redemption and finding oneself are the common threads through this one.

This is part of a series and while most books these days in a series don't require them to be read in order, I highly suggest that this series be read in order. There is something about the connections from the first book that carry over into the second that will be missed if these are read out of order.

View all my reviews

Dodging Mr. Right (Hooked In Series) by Anastasia Alexander

 

Dodging Mr. Right: A Novel by Anastasia Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tiffany is pretty happy with the life she has planned out for herself. Everything is going just as planned until the job promotion comes with an added bonus she was not expecting. Not only is she being promoted, but she now has to travel with the most annoying nephew of her employer.

Xander is very free-spirited, quite the opposite of Tiffany, and together they are going to travel around evaluating different accounts that are undertaken by the company that Tiffany works for. She's not sure she can handle this wild and crazy man in her life, she'd just assume do the work herself.

This is another fun read by this new-to-me author. This is third book I've read by her, but I have not read them in order. It's all good though because these are stand alone reads. This has been a great series and I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's works. She does a great job of creating characters that are realistic and could be your family and/or friends.

View all my reviews

Catching Mr. Perfect (Hooked In Series #3) by Anastasia Alexander

 

Catching Mr. Perfect: A Novel by Anastasia Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There probably aren't a lot of women reading this book that can avoid finding some common ground with Opal. She is the picture of most modern women today. She's hardworking and doing her best to stay afloat, all while balancing thousands of other things in the background. I am Opal!

Denver shows up one day and leaves a huge mess, which causes Opal loss of time and finances. He keeps coming back like a sore thumb wanting to help out and he asks a lot of questions. Opal just doesn't have the time but maybe if she made some for him, things would get better.

This book is very relatable with characters that feel like family and friends. This book is a stand alone in a part of a great series by this new-to-me author. I'm really enjoying her books!

View all my reviews

Loving Mr. Impossible (Hooked in Series #4) by Anastasia Alexander

 

Loving Mr. Impossible by Anastasia Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lizzie is a great yoga teacher and people love her classes. She's one bad day away from losing it all though. In financial despair, Lizzie is scrambling to find a way to save her beloved studio and all without anyone knowing the full extent of the drama behind it.

Enter Victor MacGonal. He's going to be her knight in shining armor through this whole debacle. He's determined to get her to come out of her shell and show who she really is by partnering up with him. There are some things that she doesn't want the world to know now or ever!

A conniving business deal is drawn up that could change everything...but is it for the better or worse?

This was a fun read! I felt like I could identify with the characters and almost felt like a silent observer in the corner. This was a great read for a stormy day!

View all my reviews

The Lost Locket on the Golden Gate Bridge by Scott Sollers

 

The Lost Locket on the Golden Gate Bridge by Scott Sollers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

On Katherine's 7th birthday, she received a most treasured gift...a locket that once belonged to her grandmother. It is her favorite piece of jewelry. Her family goes on vacation to California and while visiting the Golden Gate Bridge, Katherine realizes that her locket is missing. What she doesn't know is that a kind hearted seagull has found it and he's looking for her.

This is such a sweet story about treasured memories and mementos, the love of family, kindness, and going the extra mile. There are many lessons here for all ages!

View all my reviews

Whispers in the Night by J.C. Valentine

 

Whispers in the Night by J.C. Valentine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a good book that keeps me so engaged that I can read it in one setting without missing a beat. This is one of those books! Harper walked away from her FBI career but there's a case just keeps haunting her. Too many similarities are popping up and she fears that she may know more than she'd like about the identity of the suspect. She puts her cap back on and decides to solve this one for good. However, she's met her match in Detective Silas Kane. He's quick to let her know she's not welcome here. Harper starts seeing his mistakes and does her best to work together with him. Together, can they solve this case before more women end up dead?

This is an enemies to lovers style read and I really enjoy the ones where the relationships take time and a lot of work to get to that point. This is a great example of that. I really enjoyed the storyline and was kept engaged the entire time. I do want to go back and read the first book. This is a standalone series but there is an overarching between them all. I look forward to reading more by this author.

View all my reviews

Perfect by Maria Jane

 

Perfect by Maria Jane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a fun story to read! I love how Chloe grows and matures throughout and oh the choices she has to make!! This is a clean romance novel that you should probably devour in one sitting! I highly recommend this one!


View all my reviews

Forlorn Harbor by Jim Doran

 

Forlorn Harbor by Jim Doran
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Imagine wanting to fit in so much that you're willing to do just about anything. That's where Martina was and she, along with a handful of others, decided to break into an old abandoned movie theater. Sounds like fun, eh? Well, it's all fun and games until the movie projector comes on and the band of trespassers find themselves involved in a game of sorts. Not the kind you really want to play though!

This was such a thrilling read and I believe that young adults as well as more mature adults will appreciate this story. The theater setting is unique and ominous for the parts to be played out. This is a great read and I will likely add this to the "re-read pile" to enjoy again down the road!

View all my reviews

The Gift of Belonging (The Wise Women #3) by Cheryl Burman

 

The Gift of Belonging by Cheryl Burman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a beautifully written story about Rose. There is magic, there is love, struggles, and overcoming adversity. I found myself strongly identifying with Rose as I learned more about her in this story. I found it hard to put this book down to deal with "life" and was glad when I could get back to this story. Rose will stick with me for awhile!

I didn't realize this was part of a series when I picked it up. I'll be picking up the others in the series before this one. Each book is independent of each other so there's no "missing out" but this author writes so well I want to read everything she's written.

View all my reviews

Highway to Happy: A Soulful, Heart-Tugging Romance by Kelly Fletcher

 

Highway to Happy: A soulful, heart-tugging romance by Kelly Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sometimes you just need to go on a road trip...I can totally relate!! Get away, clear your head, fall in love....oh wait, that wasn't supposed to happen!

Keri is from a small town in Georgia and her first impression of Adam is that he's homeless and sharing his last bite with this dog. This is a touching, heartwarming clean romance that will have you wanting to jump into the pages and be part of this story. There are tender, emotional moments followed by some very raw, truthful ones too.

This is a story that you won't want to put down until you've finished it!

View all my reviews

His Last Christmas Gift: A Later in Life Romance Set in the Christmas Markets of France by Debra Borchert

 

His Last Christmas Gift: A Later in Life Romance Set in the Christmas Markets of France by Debra Borchert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a refreshing read on a really hot day!! I can read Christmas novels year round and get into all the feels of them. This story has humor and romance, along with the delights of France. Clair is such a fun character and I really enjoyed this story.

View all my reviews

Booked for Murder (Turtle Island Mysteries Book 1) by Savanna Grey

 

Booked For Murder by Savanna Grey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you're looking for a cozy mystery with some fun twists and turns, be sure to grab this one. Grace is a hairdresser, bookstore lover, therapist extraordinaire, and so much more! I mean, she owns a store called "A Breath of Fresh Hair" so you know it's gonna be good! A well-known author shows up dead and Grace and her friend Danny jump in to help solve the mystery. There are some fun twists and turns and you'll finish this story in no time!

View all my reviews

God's Beautiful Love: Christian Inspirational Children's Book about God's Love to Build Faith and Confidence in Kids by Deniese Dennis

 

God's Beautiful Love: Christian Inspirational Children’s Book about God’s Love to Build Faith and Confidence in Kids by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This author is becoming a new favorite of mine. This book is written to inspire and encourage young people to have confidence, show love and empathy, and just be overall good people. This is a feel good story about a little girl exploring the world around her. She sees the beauty and love in nature as well as other people. This would be a great book to read to or have read to you by the littles in your life.

View all my reviews

Mealtime at the Zoo: Jungle Bites & Delights by James Williamson

 

Mealtime at the Zoo: Jungle Bites & Delights by James Williamson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a very fun rhyming story about different animals and the food that they love. Kids of all ages will enjoy the vivid illustrations, which add even more comedic effect to the story. They will love to hear this one again and again. I highly recommend trying the recipes at the end too!

View all my reviews

Bubbles in Spring (Seasons with Bubble Girl) by Wanda Carter Roush

 

Bubbles in Spring by Wanda Carter Roush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is all about kindness, including others, empathy, and belonging. The beautiful illustrations help to show Bubble Girl and her human and animal friends interacting with each other during the season of springtime. There are activities at the end of the book for kids and adults alike to try out and work on their skills in being kind to others. This is a great book for reading with the kids or having them read to you.

View all my reviews

Alli the Alligator: A Children's Book about Kindness, Bullying, Courage, and Celebrating Differences by Cindy Miller

 

Alli the Alligator: A Children's Book About Kindness, Bullying, Courage, and Celebrating Differences by Cindy Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alli is the kindest alligator you'll ever meet. She wants to be friends with everyone. It's almost time for first grade and Alli is learning that not everyone is as kind and gentle as she is. She learns to overcome the stigma that others have put on her and becomes more accepting of others herself.

This is a story of friendship, forgiveness, courage, and more. I highly recommend grabbing this one and reading it with your little(s)!

View all my reviews

Hop's Tales: The Kind Bunny by Evelina Ruimy

 

Hop’s Tales: The Kind Bunny by Evelina Ruimy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the story of Hop, who loves school, and a dog named Ruff who makes fun of him for it. It's a story of standing up for oneself, kindness, and love. It's a great book for kids just starting out in school who might need a confidence booster but also teaches them what not to be. The illustrations are well done in this story too!

View all my reviews

The Last Owners (Crocus Hill Inn Mysteries #1) by Jean Rezab

 

The Last Owners by Jean Rezab
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's a fixer upper house and Courtney and Alex are ready to tackle it. There's just a few issues, the main one being the last owners are missing, along with a sizeable amount of jewelry. The couple decides to help out the son of the previous owners who is now a police officer. At what expense will each of them go to solve this?

I love that this is a "clean" book to read first of all. There are some who may not appreciate the religious undertones in the book. It's hard to find great reads that are not full of unnecessary junk. The mystery and suspense of this is not the high excitement that I am used reading. It's a more calm, slow scenario. It's a very enjoyable read though with relatable characters. I am one who enjoys a resolve to an issue and that didn't come with this story. I do look forward to the next book in this series.

View all my reviews

El Macho: A Jessica Watts Southwest Suspense Novel (#5) by Kathryn Dodson

 

El Macho by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jessica Watts has had it with these egotistical alpha males in her crime-solving life. It doesn't matter if they are the authorities or the perpetrators, Jessica's had enough. Especially when her friend is abducted and left in the middle of nowhere. Jessica is going to solve this case with or without the help of these men! In the meantime, past issues are creeping up that also need to be resolved.

This is a great series and I do recommend reading them in order to have the context behind the characters. It's a great tale of mystery and suspense anytime Jessica is involved!

View all my reviews

Bellyrina: A Tutu Tale from the Belly of the Beast by Once Upon a Dance

 

Bellyrina: A Tutu Tale from the Belly of the Beast by Once Upon a Dance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This kids book is a cute one full of fun and colorful illustrations. There is also a dance move on every page to learn a new dance. I do think the book will be difficult for new readers to figure out how it flows based on the way that the words are on the page. I struggled with it a bit as an adult. The design is cute in theory but not very practical. There are also a lot of words on each page and I personally found it a bit overstimulating. Otherwise, the story is good and the encouragement to get out and move is beneficial.

View all my reviews

Curve Balls and Commitments: Pickwick Pirate Queens Softball Romance Book 2 by Susan Boles

 

Curve Balls and Commitments: Pickwick Pirate Queens Softball Romance Book 2 by Susan Boles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's been Tasha's dream to open up a dance studio. Her eyes is on the prize and the paperwork is submitted only to find out that someone else beat her to the punch and got her perfect location. As she begins the search again, during softball season of all times, a new guy arrives in town named Derek. He's handsome and definitely not from Pickwick Bend. She's also run into Eli, a local EMT who grew up in Pickwick Bend, left, and is now back. Both men start to woo her and she's having to figure out who to spend her time with. Softball is also her passion and as the pitcher for the Pickwick Pirates, she's got to be on her game.

It comes down to choices and who do you trust for Tasha. Will the town she loves back her up when the going gets tough? Will the Pickwick Pirates win this years championship? Will Tasha be able to find the perfect space to open up her studio?

This was a great short read that took me just under two hours to read start to finish. I do feel like the last 3-4 chapters were a bit redundant and unnecessary. Otherwise, a nice clean romance novel with a hint of mystery.

View all my reviews

Hi Little Baby, Big Sister Loves You: A Sibling Colouring and Activity Book by Deniese Dennis

 

Hi Little Baby, Big Sister Loves You: A Sibling Colouring and Activity Book by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an activity and coloring book that would be great for a new big sister. It has coloring pages that talk about some of the changes that big sister is going to experience. There are also activity pages with dot to dot, matching, and more. This would make a great little gift for a new sister!

View all my reviews

Hi Little Baby, Big Brother Loves You: A Sibling Colouring and Activity Book by Deniese Dennis

 

Hi Little Baby, Big Brother Loves You: A Sibling Colouring and Activity Book by Deniese Dennis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a neat book for someone about to become or who has already become a big brother. There are coloring pages that talk about the types of things that a big brother does. There are activity pages that help guide the big brother through some changes that will be happening in his life. It's also a teaching tool to know how to do certain things to help with their new sibling. This would make a great gift for a new big brother.

View all my reviews

The Surf Kidz Riding the Waves: A Surfing Adventure Chapter Book for Ages 6-10 by Kim Ann

 

The Surf Kidz Riding Waves: A Surfing Adventure Chapter Book for Ages 6-10 by Kim Ann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short chapter book that focuses on friendship and the waves that can come and go with it. The focus is on positivity and confidence with Maya and her friends. They are met with a group of bullying surfers and they overcome the negative energy that they are trying to bring. This is a great book full of great illustrations!

View all my reviews

The Green Baize Door (A Marie Chevalier Mystery) by Eleanor Birney

 

The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book took me awhile to really get into the groove and I almost put it in the DNF pile but I persevered and I'm glad that I did. The writing is very well done but the character development is what took some time to get to where it needed to be. This isn't foreign to books that focus on historical events, places, and people, especially when it's trying to be done as respectfully and accurately as this story. Once everything got moving, this really captured my interest and I am excited to pick up future books in this series.

Set in the early 1900's, Marie's grandmother has been found dead. Actually, she is brutally murdered but who would do such a thing? She was the loving housekeeper for many years. Marie doesn't want her family to be blamed so she sets out to prove their innocence, all the while James a.k.a. Jamie is doing the same. Jamie is the son of the mansion owner and he, too, wants to make sure there is no blood on the hands of his family. Once Jamie and Marie meet up, they realize that one or both of their families may be involved.

As I previously mentioned, the writing is very well done. There is a lot to the class system of the day and describing all the different aspects, traditions, rules, etc. also takes some time. The meaning of the Green Door is also explained. I really appreciated this book but the ending was rather abrupt! It does make for needing to know more of the story immediately though!


View all my reviews

Love Big: A Sweet Story on the Power of Kindness and Caring (The Live Big Series) by Kat Kronenberg

 

Love Big: A Sweet Story on the Power of Kindness and Caring (The Live Big Series) by Kat Kronenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a book focused on how the act of kindness and caring can go a long way. The rhino started out being a little rude to the dung beetle but one small act of kindness changed everything for the rhino, the beetle, and everyone they met along the path that day.

The illustrations in this story are very colorful and bright. Very well done!

View all my reviews