Christmas Shelter by Tammy L. Grace ~ 5⭐

Genre: Holiday Fiction ~ Release Date: November 3, 2022

REVIEW: I’m feeling the warm fuzzies and looking forward to Christmas. I can’t wait to put up the tree and enjoy the lights out on the front porch. That is what happened to me while reading Christmas Shelter by Tammy L. Grace. If you love Christmas books, love stories and books with lots of dogs, this book should definitely be on your radar. Christmas Shelter is book number thirteen in the Soul Sister at Cedar Mountain Lodge Series. I’ve read several of the books in this series and it is my aim to read all of them.

This installment is about Gina. She is the woman who moved back to Granite Ridge after her divorce with her two teenage daughters and opened the pet store in town. She is the sister of Luke who is married to Jo. This Christmas she is going to be alone because her daughters are going to Florida to be with their father and the rest of her family is gathering with her parents in California. She is kind of feeling sorry for herself. Let’s put it this way, with a blizzard on the way and an emergency at the animal shelter she is far from alone!

I don’t think there is a primary character in this whole series that I haven’t liked. There are lots of side people but, we don’t get to know them that well. They just fill a purpose. I have liked all of the storylines and the books have all kept me interested. The series has several authors that have contributed books to it but, I can’t tell one author from another. The books flow seemlessly from one story to another. I have fallen in love with this series and I think you will too. The characters are all different age groups so there is something for everyone. 

If this sounds interesting, you will certainly love this series. You can jump in anywhere. I don’t think you will feel lost. Each book gives you enough information so you know what is going on. I think you should start from the beginning as you will learn the history of what the books and people are all about but, it is not necessary. It is just the fun way to appoach this series of books. They are not terribly long and make a nice evening or two of reading. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

SYNOPSIS: Random circumstances brought them together. Love made them family.

Luke and Jo are spending Christmas in California, leaving Gina, Luke’s sister, in charge of their dogs. Gina’s already feeling sorry for herself with her girls gone for the holidays, choosing to spend their vacation with their dad in Florida.

Determined to make the best of it, Gina consoles herself with all her favorite Christmas treats, a little wine, and lots of streaming of the shows she hasn’t had time to watch. She’s snuggled into her favorite chair, when a broken water main, a winter blizzard, six shelter dogs, and a power outage throw a wrench in her plans for a quiet Christmas.

Along with all the chaos comes Tommy Lane, an old classmate of Gina’s and the local electrician and businessman who helped Jo get her non-profit project for foster children established in Granite Ridge. He offers to help Gina deal with the turmoil and in the process, they end up spending time together.

Tommy doesn’t celebrate Christmas and never puts up a tree, preferring to work through the holidays. Gina’s house is decorated with thousands of lights, two fresh trees, wreaths in every window, and she makes her own ravioli for the holiday meal.

Will a little Christmas magic help the two lonely souls realize they both deserve more, and despite their past, it’s never too late for a second chance?

If you’re a fan of small towns, heartwarming family holiday stories, along with a few furry friends, you’ll fall in love with the latest book featuring more from the Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge Series written by USA Today bestselling author, Tammy L. Grace.

✓ Don’t miss a Soul Sisters book – download them all today!

Book 1: Christmas Sisters – perma-FREE prologue book
Book 2: Christmas Kisses by Judith Keim
Book 3: Christmas Wishes by Tammy L. Grace
Book 4: Christmas Hope by Violet Howe
Book 5: Christmas Dreams by Ev Bishop
Book 6: Christmas Rings by Tess Thompson
Book 7: Christmas Surprises by Tammy L. Grace
Book 8: Christmas Yearnings by Ev Bishop
Book 9: Christmas Peace by Violet Howe
Book 10: Christmas Castles by Judith Keim
Book 11: Christmas Star by Tess Thompson
Book 12: Christmas Joy by Judith Keim
Book 13: Christmas Shelter by Tammy L. Grace
Book 14: Christmas Secret by Violet Howe

A Quiet Retreat by Kiersten Modglin ~ 5⭐

Genre: Psychological Suspense & Thriller ~ Release Date: October 31, 2022

REVIEW: Everytime I pick up a book by Kiersten Modglin, I’m filled with excitement and trepidation. Excitement because I know I’m in for a good read and trepidation because she scares the pants off me. I have dreams of her books. So, I can’t just put it down and go to sleep. Yes, I can, but I’m going to dream about it all night. A Quiet Retreat was no exception.

This book is written in two time lines. The first one is a writer’s retreat in a victorian mansion in South Dakota. The other is a timeline that takes place before the retreat. Probably years ago. Both of the timelines were interesting but they were so different. I felt like I was shifting gears all the time. That is not so much of a problem. I think the problem was my mind trying to figure out how in the world these two timelines come together. Never fear I didn’t figure it out…AT ALL! Kiersten’s mind is so twisted. I still don’t know how she thinks up these scenarios. Who has a mind like hers?

Her characters are interesting and I tried to figure out who the authors were at the retreat. After all, I think they were real authors with the names changed to protect the innocent! They were all supposed to be the favorite authors of the invitee. I think Daniel was Stephen King but, who am I? I need to ask Kiersten about that. I haven’t figured out if one of them was actually Kiersten. Let me know what you think when you read the book. I’d like your opinion.

If you are looking for a fun and exciting read for Halloween, this would be the book I would choose for you. You can’t go wrong with any of Kiersten’s books but, releasing this one on Halloween was pure genius! If I were you, I would turn off my lights, light a candle, get a hot drink, a fuzzy blanket and a snack or two and forget about those trick or treaters. Settle in with Kiersten Modglin’s new book A Quiet Retreat and enjoy your evening. 

Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own!

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: You are cordially invited to visit the new Black Hills Manor Writing Retreat.

That’s how it all begins—with a simple invitation.

For five authors, it’s meant to be the start of a restful week, filled with free food, drinks, and likeminded company.
But shortly after their arrival, things take an unsettling turn.

Broken property, missing items, and strange noises are just some of the odd occurrences that have each member questioning their companions. As suspicions mount, the authors are pitted against each other.

Whom can they trust in a house full of strangers?

With tensions rising, the writers find themselves in the middle of their own mystery. Death, terror, and despair are common elements in their books, but at Black Hills Manor, the murders being plotted are their own.

The Miner’s Canary by Barbara Pronin ~ 5⭐

Genre: Suspense, Thriller ~ Release Date: October 25, 2022

REVIEW: The Miner’s Canary by Barbara Pronin was one book I read this year that grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let me go until the very end! It has some twists and turns I didn’t expect. I am so pleased that I was approached to read and review an early copy of this book. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be my last!

I have to admit I read the synopsis when Ms. Pronin first offered her new book to me to read but I forgot what the book was about when I picked it up. I went in cold. I’m so glad I did. The surprises along the way were a delight. I didn’t remember that it was a mystery. I thought it was a cute story about a woman that inherited her Aunt’s home. I was so mistaken.

The characters in this book are lovable and believable. I liked Julie, who is the main character. She is the widowed mother of a young girl. The town the Aunt lived in is Deadwood, South Dakota and the Police Chief is Charlie. Julie has every intention of selling the house and going back to California. In the short time she is in Deadwood, she meets people she considers her friends. It becomes obvious she has more friends there than she has back home. She moves with her daughter and the young woman who does child care for her back to Deadwood.

There are questions she has about the sudden death of her Aunt and things begin to happen to her and her daughter that makes her think someone in Deadwood doesn’t want her there. Problem is there are at least three people she can think of that would like her to leave. She decides they are not going to drive her out. She stays and fights back! Good for you, Julie!

This book literally had me sitting on the edge of my chair. I couldn’t put it down. I spent every spare minute I had in two days to finish The Miner’s Canary. If you love a book filled with mystery and suspense, then this book is for you! I loved it. I’m sure you will too. If you read this book, let me know what you think. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: “A smart heroine with a haunted past . . . a who-done-it full of twists and turns.”

Haunted by a death she might have prevented, single mom Julie Goldman returns to the brooding Black Hills of South Dakota to turn the old Victorian she inherits from her aunt into a bed-and-breakfast inn. But mysterious deaths are piling up, and a series of vaguely escalating threats convince her that someone wants her gone. When daughter Lu is run off the road while riding her bike, Julie knows she must find and stop whoever has them squarely in their sights.

Forbidden Love by Ashley Farley ~ 5⭐

Genre: Family Life Fiction ~ Release Date: October 25, 2022

REVIEW: Once again Ashely Farley has come through with another great addition to the Virginia Vineyards series. Forbidden Love is book three. This is a spin off of the Hope Springs Series and I loved that one too. Who am I kidding? I have loved every book I’ve read by Ms. Farley. Her books are so down home. These books just give me a good feeling when I read them. They are filled with love, angst and everything in between.

The characters are pretty much the same and we hear a little more from some of the characters than we did before. Laney is prominent in this one. She is the wife of the oldest son whose name is Hugh. We follow Ada on her path to independence. I really enjoy these characters…well most of them. Hugh and his father Daniel are quite something. They leave a little to be desired. Not my favorite characters. This author does a great job of developing her characters. You learn more from them by how they act than by her just telling us who they are. The characters show us who they are. I love the females in this book who are standing up and asserting themselves. They are becoming strong and building a life they are meant to live. I lile the men who are there to support them and have stepped up to the plate.

There is at least one more book in this series called Love and War. The title tells me there are going to be some sparks flying. Daniel just ioves to cause trouble. Is he going for the big one this time? I don’t know it’s just a hunch that might be the war part? Who is going to fall in love?  Is that the love part or coming together after the war? Folks, that is just my brain running ahead of itself while waiting. Just contiplating all that could happen…

If you love family sagas, you will most likely enjoy this series. Of course, I highly recommend this set of books. I’ve enjoyed them all and find myself anxiously awaiting the next book. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own!

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: A father’s lie tears his family apart in the captivating continuation of the bestselling Virginia Vineyard series.

Daniel Love has alienated his loved ones. And he’ll stop at nothing to have his daughter and long-time mistress back in his life. He resorts to drastic measures, devising a wicked scheme intended to elicit sympathy from his family. All hell breaks loose when his plan backfires.

Ada is torn between her fathers. Her recently discovered biological father wants her to help run his equestrian center, but his son, Ada’s new half brother, Stuart, isn’t too keen on the idea. Meanwhile, Daniel, the man who raised her from birth, has a special request only she can grant.

Laney is trapped in a loveless marriage. Her husband refuses to divorce her, and she lacks the resources to support her teenage daughters on her own. New friend and local winemaker, Bruce Wheeler, encourages her to start her own floral design business. But their friendship quickly develops into forbidden passion.

The Color of Ice by Barbara Linn Probst ~5⭐

Genre: Literary Fiction ~ Release Date: October 18, 2022

REVIEW: The Color of Ice by Barbara Linn Probst was my first book by this author and hopefully, it won’t be my last. Let me give you a word of advise before you dive into this book. Please take your time. In my opinion this is not a book you want to fly through just to get it done or because it is so good. Take your time or go back and read it again. This book is packed full of wisdom. Words we all need to hear at one time or another.

This is such a truly beautiful story. It has a lot to do with relationships on so many levels. Cathryn is the main character. She is a widow who on a whim travels to Iceland to do a photo shoot of a a glassblower named Mack. She is a freelance photographer and winds up spending a bit of time with him learning about glassblowing. 

Cathryn has children from her late husband who are grown and for the most part on their own. They are back in the United States going through their own tribulations and in the process finally growing closer to one another. So far we have possible romantic relationships and sibling relationships. Cathryn meets a woman at a botanical park that is also a different kind of a relationship in this book. There are also the long term business relationships she has developed over the years. I love the explorations of relationships and how they change.

She also brought me along to a beautiful country I have never visited before either in my life or in a book. She describes the beauty in Iceland and makes you feel like you are on the trip with her. Her journey along the roads and the places she ends up are little gems in the book that I enjoyed. Even the trip through a very long one lane, two way tunnel. Oh my! Hang on to your seats.

If you haven’t read anything by Barbara Linn Probst, I highly recommend this book and I will at some point go back and read her other books. She is a gem. She will make you feel what her characters are feeling and let you go where they go. That is a gift that is not possessed by all authors. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, #Netgalley and #SheWritesPress. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: Set among the glaciers and thermal lagoons of Iceland, and framed by the magical art of glassblowing, The Color of Ice is the breathtaking story of a woman’s awakening to passion, beauty, and the redemptive power of unconditional love.

The stunning new novel by the author of award-winning novels Queen of the Owls and The Sound Between the Notes . . .

Cathryn McAllister, a freelance photographer, travels to Iceland for a photo shoot with an enigmatic artist who wants to capture the country’s iconic blue icebergs in glass. Her plan is to head out, when the job is done, on a carefully curated “best of Iceland” solo vacation. Widowed young, Cathryn has raised two children while achieving professional success. If the price of that efficiency has been the dimming of her fire—well, she hasn’t let herself think about it. Until now. 

 Bit by bit, Cathryn abandons her itinerary to remain with Mack, the glassblower, who awakens a hunger for all the things she’s told herself she doesn’t need anymore. Passion. Vulnerability. Risk. Cathryn finds herself torn between the life—and self—she’s come to know and the new world Mack offers. Commitments await her back in America. But if she walks away, she’ll lose this chance to feel deeply again. Just when her path seems clear, she’s faced with a shocking discovery—and a devastating choice that shows her what love really is.

Improbably Yours by Kerry Anne King ~ 5⭐

Genre: Women’s Literary Fiction ~ Release Date: October 18, 2022

REVIEW: Kerry Anne King has a new book out titled “Improbably Yours”. You would think right off the bat this is a romance book. Well, it is and it isn’t. It is so much more than a romance. The book revolves around a treasure hunt. In fact the whole visit to this island is a treasure hunt. The island of Vinland has make itself into a destinaltion treasure hunt. You have to make reservations a year or two in advance. Background checks are done and you have to be approved to set foot on the Island. You just can’t show up. 

On the island of Vinland there is Flynn and his niece Savannah and a whole host of characters. The inhabitants of this island make money off of the visitors who supply them with their livelihood. It is an interesting concept and sounds like a fun thing to do for vacation especially since you can choose to play as a Viking or a Pirate. I would love to do this for vacation. Do you want to go?

Blythe is the main character who is there with a request from her long ago deceased Grandmother, Nomi. Nomi has set up a treasure hunt of sorts for Blythe she has to complete to claim her inheritance. Blythe was on her way to a high powered career and marriage she really didn’t want and this gives her a way out and maybe a beginning to a new life. The house she rents on Vinland is the Improbable House. So, now you can see a little bit about where the name of the book comes from. 

I really can’t tell you more about the book without giving away too much of it. I want you to have the surprise of the discoveries that Blythe makes along the way. Who she meets. The things she finds. It is all very enchanting. Kerry did a fantastic job of writing in all the fabulous things about Vinland and the Grandmother that Blythe has missed for years. I love the bond they had. 

There is something very special about this book and I can’t put my finger on it. I could go on and on about all the little details in this book that probably have meaning behind them. There is a lot of hurt and healing involved. You MUST read this book! Until next time…Happy Reading.

Don’t forget to support the authors you love by leaving a review! 

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Thank you! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

SYNOPSIS: An unusual inheritance leads to a life-changing journey in a novel of romance, secrets, and the treasure of found family.

Blythe Harmon is on the fast track to a life she never wanted. On her thirtieth birthday, just as she’s about to lock herself into a high-powered job and accept a marriage proposal to match, an unusual bequest from her beloved late grandmother, Nomi, offers an escape and an invitation to adventure.

Equipped with Nomi’s urn of ashes and a treasure map, Blythe sets off for a small island in the San Juans where she rents the mysterious and unsettling Improbable House. Secret by secret, clue by cryptic clue, she begins to unravel the puzzle her grandmother has left her to piece together. Her quest is complicated, though, by a powerful attraction to an enigmatic islander and empathy for his orphaned niece, both of whom are inexorably tied to the old house.

Just when Blythe thinks she’s on the verge of solving the mystery, her quest takes an unexpected turn, and she discovers that the treasure she’s really seeking is something that could never be buried in the ground. While she’s on the treasure hunt of a lifetime, the past and the future are coming together in this magical novel by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Whisper Me This.

Vanished on Vacation by Jenifer Ruff ~ 5⭐

Genre: Suspense Thriller & Mystery ~ Release Date: October 7, 2022

REVIEW: Vanished on Vacation by Jenifer Ruff is her newest release. It’s a good one and you may want to clear some time on your schedule to read this one. It is a “Must Read”. This is book six of the Agent Victoria Heslin Series. I have read all of them except the first two books which I own. I just have to carve out some time in my schedule to read them!

This book is filled with interesting characters. Of course you have the main character Vicoria Heslin and her boyfriend Ned. Now, Ned is quite a guy. He doesn’t mind Victoria leaving on a moments notice, he doesn’t get upset when her life is in danger and he stays at her house when she is away to take care for her animals. His is also a Veterinarian so…what more could you ask for? Her partner is Rivera and he is the same solid guy. This one takes place at a resort in Mexico so, you know there are going to be some quirky guests.

The twists in this book will keep you on your feet. There are a few of them I didn’t see coming at all. We pretty much know who the criminals are but, they somehow think they are going to walk away from their crimes without paying a price. We shall see about that! Everyone in this book seems to have a secret they are hiding. I mean every. single. character. That might be hard to believe but, think about it. Don’t we all have some secrets we aren’t telling? I know I might have one or two.

This was one of the best books I’ve read by Jenifer. All of her books have been enjoyable. I’m not sure if it was the crime, the setting or what really held my attention but, I’m guessing it was a combination of all of those things. Her writing is smooth and easy to follow. I never get lost in an investigation. That really helps. I hate going back to figure out what I missed ore didn’t understand. That never happens in a book by Jenifer Ruff. 

If you like mystery and suspense then this is a book for you. Go ahead and buy it now and add it to your list. You know you’ll want to read it soon. I highly recommend this series and this book. They are all written as stand alone so you won’t feel like you are missing anything if you jump into this series now. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: Three college students enjoy a fun resort vacation in Mexico…until one of them disappears.

As a frantic search for missing student Avery Jennings begins, everyone is hiding something—Avery’s family and friends, the resort’s staff, and its wealthy guests. It’s up to FBI Special Agent Victoria Heslin to dig deeper. Motivated by her own mother’s abduction years ago, she’s determined not to let Avery become another missing person statistic.

The Mexican authorities aren’t cooperating, and Victoria realizes she’s up against something more powerful than she imagined. Taking matters into her own hands, she plunges into a hellish ordeal that will test her strength and courage like never before.

“How much will you risk to find this girl?” the officer asked.
“Whatever it takes,” Victoria answered without hesitation.

Or is it already too late?

One Unforgettable Christmas by Tammy L Grace ~ 5⭐

Genre: Holiday Fiction ~ Release Date: October 6, 2022

REVIEW: Do you have an author that you read anything by them and you don’t even have to read the blurb on the book? I have several and Tammy L Grace is one of them! I love her writing. She always pulls me in and keeps my interest until the very end. As soon as I finish one book I’m waiting for the next new book.

One Unforgettable Christmas is her newest release and boy, oh boy, is it a good one! It takes place in a small town that is all in on Christmas traditions. She paints such a pretty picture and I want to live in Snow Valley. There is a coffee shop, a diner and best of all a cute little Bookshop. What more do you need? 

I particularly like the characters in this story. They’re so nice and they are all helpful and caring. Of course, just like any small town, they all know your business. That’s just the way it is. It’s not because they’re nosey, it is just they’ve known you your whole life. This book gives you all the Christmas feels. 

One Unforgettable Christmas was one of eight novellas in an anthology called A Keepsake Christmas last year. This year it is being released all on its own! It is really book two in Hometown Christmas Series with Christmas in Snow Valley being book one. If you read book one you’ll want to read this one and if you haven’t read either one, go get them both now! They are the perfect holiday stories for your bookshelf! 

Until next time…Happy Reading.

Don’t forget to support the authors you love by leaving a review! 

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you! 

SYNOPSIS: An exhausted emergency doctor looking to escape the city. A beach-loving, workaholic executive stuck in a snow-covered valley. Will the charm of the town and the magic of the holidays be enough to mend their broken hearts?

Hugh Whitman isn’t into Christmas. He always spends his holidays on the white sandy beaches of a tropical island. This year, the unexpected death of his aunt summons him to Snow Valley, the quaint mountain town where Christmas is the biggest event of the year. His plans for a quick trip are thwarted by a bothersome clause in Aunt Betty’s will requiring him to oversee her bookshop and extend his stay until after the holidays.

Tired from her grueling schedule as an emergency room doctor, and feeling every one of her almost fifty years, Allison James is looking forward to her upcoming two-week escape to Snow Valley for the holidays. She can’t wait to spend time with her grown daughter, Harper. They have plans to sip cocoa, decorate the tree, and partake in all the festivities at the Mistletoe Lodge that make her hometown the perfect place to celebrate Christmas.

While struggling to stay warm, Hugh runs into Harper at the local diner, and she ends up helping him navigate more than the wintry terrain. As they get to know each other, she begins to hatch a plan to introduce him to her mother, thinking they would make the perfect couple.

Allison is pondering a huge life change and Hugh can’t wait to get back to his sunny beach view office and a waiting promotion. Will Harper’s determination and the nostalgia of Snow Valley work to unite these two stubborn souls?

Find out in Tammy L. Grace’s latest holiday story, filled with family, friendship, and a hint of romance. Readers will delight in this return to Snow Valley in Tammy’s second installment in her Hometown Christmas Series, perfect for readers who love dogs, small-towns, and second chances. Previously part of A Keepsake Christmas multi-author collection, but now available as a single story. Read it today! Read more from USA Today bestselling author, Tammy L. Grace

COOPER HARRINGTON DETECTIVE NOVELS

  • Killer Music (2016 Gold Medal Mystery Winner in the Global eBook Awards)
  • Deadly Connection (2017 Gold Medal Mystery Winner in the Global eBook Awards)
  • Dead Wrong
  • Cold Killer

HOMETOWN HARBOR SERIES

  • Hometown Harbor: The Beginning (Prequel Novella)
  • Finding Home
  • Home Blooms
  • Promise of Home
  • Pieces of Home
  • Finally Home
  • Forever Home

GLASS BEACH COTTAGE SERIES

  • Beach Haven
  • Moonlight Beach

CHRISTMAS BOOKS

  • A Season for Hope (Christmas in Silver Falls, Book 1)
  • The Magic of the Season (Christmas in Silver Falls, Book 2)
  • Christmas in Snow Valley (Hometown Christmas Series, Book 1)
  • Christmas Sisters (FREE PREQUEL to Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge, Book 1)
  • Christmas Wishes (Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge, Book 3)
  • Christmas Surprises (Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge, Book 7)

The Corey Effect by Casey Dembowski ~ 5⭐

Genre: Contemporary Romance Fiction ~ Release Date: October 4, 2022

REVIEW: Casey Dembowski just came out with her Sophomore book The Corey Effect. It’s a great effort and I would highly recommend this book. If you were to ask me which one was my favorite, When We’re Thirty or The Corey Effect, I’m not sure I could give you an answer. They were both really good books and I rated her first book five stars and I’m going to do the same for this new book.

The Coret Effect is written in two different time periods about ten years apart. The characters are in their junior and senior year of high school and moving on to college. So, they start out a bit younger. I don’t often read young adult books because for someone in their late 60’s they often are not as relatable. Don’t get me wrong. I do remember those days with clarity and love to reminisce about my first love but things were different fifty years ago. The second time period is ten years later. Andi and Corey haven’t seen each other in ten years since they broke up during their first year of college. 

The main characters are Andi and Corey. Andi is the new girl in school. Corey is the hometown football hero. They fall in love at first sight and it is the kind of love you don’t get over and stays with you your whole life even when things don’t work out. The other characters are their friends and family. Corey has a family that although they are not prominent in the book will make you fall in love with them. His dad will make you want to hug him and be in his strong comforting arms. He is stern yet loving and kind. 

You think this book is going to be a quick lighthearted read. It does turn serious and has some triggers that may bother some people. It deals with abuse, alcoholism and divorce. There is some love scenes in the book if you know what I mean. I don’t think they are over the top and they serve a purpose. Once I got over the characters being so young in the early years and understood why the author included as much as she did, I truly enjoyed the book. When I went back and looked at the book as a whole, I realized what an amazing job Casey Dembowski did on The Corey Effect. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #CaseyDembowski. Thank you. Opinions in this review are completely my own.

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: A second chance ten years in the making.

When Andi Scott left her hometown ten years ago, she swore she’d never go back. But news of her estranged father’s death has her driving the all-too-familiar roads. Each turn brings another memory—of the girl she became there and the boy she loved and lost. The only saving grace is that there’s no way Corey Johnson, the former love of her life, is still around. They both got out, even though it cost them everything.

Andi’s barely in town for a day when she discovers that not only is Corey still in Fairford, but he’s the cofounder of a successful local business, one he built with her father. The news shatters the walls Andi built around her past and forces her to reexamine everything she thought she knew.

When Corey asks Andi to stay in town, she can’t refuse his boyish grin or the way he still looks at her as if she’s the only person in the room. And she doesn’t want to. Corey’s still the same person who made the worst day of her life better with one crooked smile, but there’s something he’s not telling her. Andi has to know what it is, even if it means opening her heart to the person who broke it in the first place.

An Azalea Lake Christmas by Susan Schild ~ 5⭐

Genre: Women’s Holiday Romance ~ Release Date: October 15, 2022

Ebook available now! Paperback available soon! Here is the link to buy it today!

https://amzn.to/3LXMRnG

REVIEW: Oh man…I didn’t want Susan Sdhild’s new book “An Azalea Lake Christmas” to come to an end. It was so good. I absolutlely and whole heartedly fell in love with this book. Now, you all know that I don’t re-read books. I might just have to read this series from beginning to end when it is finished. That will be a first for me but, it is that good!

I thought I was in love with the first book! Pecan Pie for Breakfast was great but, An Azalea Lake Chirstmas just out did it. There are so many good things to say about this book so, I’ll get to it. Number one on the top of my list are the characters. Everyone of them are awesome. Well, except for one and she is the ex-wife of the love interest across the street named Hank. Oh! By the way, Hank is a hunk. Cricket is the main character and feels a little less than the beautiful ex. There are her friends, neighbors, Her dad and his new wife and just a slew of people I would like to call my own.  

Cricket is not a young chick either. She is 46 years old and Hank is about her age. Susan’s characters are of an older generation. Younger than me but, it is still enjoyable to read about people who are closer to my way of thinking. They are not party people and more family oriented. Of course, her parents are closer to my age! Mr. P across the street is older than me. So, there is a lot to like about these folks.

The setting is in a small town. Not huge and not dinky. Actually, it is on a lake and Lake Azalea has a town associated with it. There is a lot going on in their little world. It will keep you interested and reading your day away. I love the days when I have the house to myself and don’t feel a bit of guilt spending the day with my nose in a book. An Azalea Lake Christmas was so enjoyable! 

If you like good clean fiction, older characters and a setting that you could see yourself living in, then these books are for you. They are written in such a way that they stand alone. There is no confusion. I can’t say it enough, these books give me all the feels. I am so satisfied when I get done that I have a bit of a hangover. So, what are you waiting for? It’s Christmas soon and you can just go ahead and buy yourself a little Christmas present. Don’t ask. Just do it. You won’t regret it for a moment. Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

To follow my blog, click on the heading of any blog post. This will bring up just that blog and you will see a follow button on the bottom right hand corner. Thank you!

SYNOPSIS: USA Today Bestselling Author Susan Schild presents another heartwarming and cozy romance featuring heroines over 40! The sequel to fan favorite, Pecan Pie for Breakfast, is finally here…

After a rocky divorce, 46-year-old Cricket is grateful to finally be settled. With a flourishing business and a budding romance with her handsome neighbor, Hank, life finally seems both calm and promising. But then, Hank’s glamorous ex-wife cruises into town looking to rekindle her romance with him and maybe even remarry him. To add to her worries, Cricket is forced to leave her cozy apartment and scramble to find another place to live.

What Cricket really wants is to be married to a good, kind man like Hank and live in a cottage on the banks of Azalea Lake. Instead of letting the uncertainties in her life scare her into settling, Cricket takes charge. She gathers courage and sets out to build the life she has only let herself dream about.

With crazy fun girlfriends, RV camping trips, and home fix-up and house hunting in a wild real estate market, Cricket sets out to build her dream life. Will she finally say yes to love and find her happily ever after?