Angel White

All of the books in this series make for quick, Christmas magical mystery fun. There hasn't been one book I haven't enjoyed so far.

This is a very interesting look into the minds of boys and young adult males. This author has a way of writing that really pulls you in and makes you reflect. There are many parts I could relate to... especially the financial struggles with jobs that you need but sometimes hardly feel worth having.

I absolutely LOVED that the very first story in this collection took me back to The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island and gives a backstory to one of the friendships from that book. I also loved that this story ended on a positive note vs. the horror it could have ended in.

It is helpful to note that this isn't a book for thrill seekers or readers who want a fast-paced page turner. While this is highly enjoyable, it is meant to be savored and reflected upon. I'm sure we all know someone who either went through these scenarios or we ourselves have gone through something similar.

I chose to listen to the audio for this one and while it wasn't great throughout it's entirety, it didn't make me cringe either. I don't listen to much audio and it says a lot that I finished this one AND, for the most part, enjoyed it. How I feel about the audio in no way reflects my love for the story itself. Overall, a good book, and one I would definitely recommend.

Love me some Rom-Coms at Christmas. This is a super cute read and made passing the day, light and fun.

It's Christmas time again at Castleton Manor. Eileen and Faith are preparing for a children's literary retreat that will showcase new authors and illustrators with planned activities for the local children.

During the festivities a certain illustrator who fancies himself a pirate, and has caused discourse amongst many of the attendees, is found murdered. Will this put a damper on the holiday festivities for the children? Or can Faith, her ever dashing kitty Watson and the Candle House Book Club solve the mystery in time and save the holiday fun?

These are so much fun. With every book I love this series more and more. I want a Watson

This is my first Joanne Fluke book and the first I've read in this cozy mystery series. I am glad these can be read standalone as this is book 26 in the series. I didn't feel lost at all and that was a plus.

I also love the recipes but wish they would have been set together at the end of the book. Having the recipes after the chapters threw off the flow. I didn't enjoy this type of format.

Overall, not a bad read but also not a cozy mystery love either. I will definitely try another in this series though.

I sincerely appreciate Kensington Publishing for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

4.5 Rounded up to 5

I can't believe I haven't found and read this author before now. Historical Fiction is a genre I've been getting into more over the last year and it has quickly became a favorite one to read.

This one took me to the early 1900s where I was lost in the love story between Templeton and John. I just love a good, clean romance and this one just melted my heart.

Templeton is as fiery as they come and I loved every minute of it. I ached with her, triumphed with her and felt her worry and sorrow as she struggled with the choices she made.

When the earthquake hits and devastation descends on, not only San Francisco, but in the hearts of those left in Philadelphia, my heart broke too. All those lost souls, and injured walking or lost....whew this author has a way with words.

I now need to go back and find everything this author has written and get my hands on them. I truly appreciate the publisher for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

I am a huge Office fan and I absolutely loved this book. It's so much fun to see what went behind the characters, the actors who eventually made it to the cast, the episodes and the entire thinking process behind it.

I don't remember another Non-Fiction book I've had this much fun reading. It's funny how many real life moments in the writers' lives became episodes in the show, or the basis for one. That is one of the things that had me hooked, how normal and real the setting and people of The Office are.

I also really loved the format and enjoyed where everyone gets a short blip to get their thoughts in. There were so many people involved!

Now I need to go back and rewatch the show again.

I am absolutely loving this series. I usually take my time with cozies and read them sporadically. This is one of the first.thsy I have binge read the first few books of. I mean Salem, witches, ghosts and mysteries....what's not to love.

3.5 Rounded to 3

First I just want to say that I don't read many books translated from a different language. Knowing this from the outset, I read this with a different mindset from other books.

I love the premise of this one as it has major Star Wars feels. Good vs Evil. Dystopian society with a nicely done world building had me into this one. Plus, it's a relatively fast read.

What made this hard for me is the lack of character development, and the pacing. I felt lost a lot of the time and was unsure what was even happening. The storyline jumped around without any cohesion and POVs were jumbled together so I had to reread sections a couple of times.

Now, this is where I think the translation may be an issue. This is originally done in French, translated to English. So keeping this in mind, it's possible I may have misinterpreted what the author meant to happen or lost something in the translation.

It may be helpful to have an editor go through and clean up the English version. It may also help to spend a little time developing the characters and delving more into the magic system and it's background. It was sometimes hard to follow as something new would pop up without any explanation.

Overall though, this is a fun read. It has what I love in a Fantasy/Sci-Fi..I mean there is a resistance fighting against a corrupt regime, with magical powers and Druids mixed in. What is not to love there? I would definitely read this author again.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

This was an ok read. For all the reviews of it being a heart pounding thriller I was disappointed. It was a good story overall, and the writing was ok too but nothing thrilling about it. However, that being said I would try another book by this author, but won't be continuing this series. It just isn't for me.

I won this through a Goodreads giveaway and appreciate receiving the Ebook and a chance to read it for an honest review.

I haven't read this author before and wow, what a pleasant surprise. I love Angels and stories about them, but this is the first fantasy with Angels I've read that also has them turning into Fae and other magical creatures and beings. Such a unique premise and so well done. The writing is beautiful and really draws you into the story. Definitely recommend this one.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and The Book Scenes for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

This is absolutely amazing! I've always wanted to learn more about how the creatures and specific areas of the wizarding world were created.

This is book 1 of 12 from the Harry Potter Film Vault. Each volume tackles a different area of the Harry Potter films and how they were created. Also, with each volume, there is an art print tied to that volume.

Volume 1 is Forest, Lake and Sky Creatures. In this volume we learn about the creatures of the Forbidden Forest and the Black Lake, Hippogriffs and Thestrals, and of course Dragons.

Since there are 12 volumes in this set, I will be reading one volume a month. I can't wait to see all the different pieces of the films I love so much and the books that I reread every year. Now, where to hang all these art prints when I'm done

A few times a year I like to reach for a poetry book and get lost in the emotions. Sometimes light. Sometimes dark, and sometimes just for fun.

This is a good mix of nature, emotions and depth. I connected with quite a few but the one that strikes my heart the most is My Dainty Heart. That one hits too close to home.

If you're looking for some light poetry which reflects deeper emotions without the darker sadness, this is a good one to reach for.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

This was great!! I've been a fan of his for a while, so when I saw this I had to grab it. I was laughing so much and appreciate how open he is. The narration is great because he is the narrator

Ander has been having vivid dreams...ones that seem a little too real. In these dreams he is transported to another world. A world where he can feel wind blowing across his face. He can feel the buildings and see the creatures...some of which are terrifying. He even has a conversation with one who says he knew his father. How is that possible when his father died when he was two? Why do these dreams feel so real?

Ander soon learns the world he dreams of is called Luceria and he is what's called a Dreamer. He also learns that he isn't a normal Dreamer. The once beautiful and light Luceria is in danger from a fellow Dreamer, and his army, as he wants to take over and rule Luceria. It's up to Ander, with a little help, to save Luceria and restore its light.

Oh man! What a fun and imaginative read! I finished this one in less than 2 days...it was hard to put down. I might be a tad biased

Anne Gibson had moved back home to Blue Hill, Pennsylvania. Her Great-Aunt Edie has left her beautiful home to Anne with the requirement that part of the home be turned into a town library. Anne couldn't be more excited.

During the renovations Anne stumbles upon a secret room and the secret it holds ... a wedding photo of her Great-Aunt and a mysterious gentleman. Funny though...her aunt was never married...it was she?

Even though this wasn't the normal cozy-mystery, full of murder and crime, it was still enjoyable. This is more of a cozy-warming-of-the-heart and was fun to read and was a perfect way to spend my Saturday. Definitely looking forward to continuing this series.

So I said I wasn't going to start yet another fantasy series.  I swore I would just keep to finishing off the many I still need to finish...enter From Blood and Ash and buddy reading.

I saw this one on Instagram, and it sounded so interesting that I grab the audio.

That whole time period is fascinating to me, and the narrator did such a great job with this one. I was wholly engaged in the story, and the life of this gangster, Jack Diamond.

I definitely recommend this one for anyone who is interested in true crime and old style gangsters.

It's the New Year at Castleton Manor in Lighthouse Bay, Massachusetts. To celebrate Castleton is hosting the Everything Shakespeare event showcasing shortened plays, music from that time period and much, much more.

The event takes a dark turn when one of the Castleton employees is murdered...one who knew a few of the main actors in the troupe. Partner that with mysterious pranks happening around the manor and it seems Faith & Watson have their hands full of mysteries to solve. Can they do so before anyone else is hurt? Or worse killed?

I have said this a few times...I LOVE this cozy series. I will be heartbroken when this one comes to an end.

This one gives me all the feels of the TV crime dramas I know and love. Enter Jason, the new blood, who fights against, Mike, the old, tired and seen-it-all blood, and you have what soon becomes a close working partnership that cops develop.

While they work out the kinks in their partnership, murders are happening that seem to have a religious undertone. The killer keeps a blog so we, the readers, get to experience the twisted and violent thinking behind the “why”.

There is also interaction with the ME who gets involved in assisting with the case, and with Mike personally. I enjoyed what this added to the overall story.

This is a great start to the series and I found there are already 3 other books for me to snag and read. Righteous Assassin is one I recommend for those looking for a well-done captivating read.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Blackthorn Book Tours for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

I haven't read this author, or this format before, and I absolutely loved this. This is a compilation of the author's blog posts, hand-picked by her.

This is a great way to start the day, perfect to pair with a morning cup of coffee or tea. This is also a great way to end your day on a positive note before bedtime.

I love the theme of gratitude. It seems like there's not enough of that in today's society. This is chock full of great advice, ideas, and thoughts that can be meditated upon.

Definitely recommend this one. I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Book & Wine Lovers Marketing for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

DNF @51%

I just can't with this book. This is supposed to be a look into a true crime, and it's more of a gossipy unverifiable information dump.

On top of that, it's repetitive and boring. This narrator's voice is horrible. She tries to do different fluctuations for the characters, but this is true crime, not a fiction so it's absolutely unnecessary.

One of the worst audio books I've listened to about true crime.

The Pierson family has welcomed a new member as Pamela marries the middle son, Paul. At first, it seems everything is going along smoothly and the newlyweds are happy.

Fairly quickly, Kay Pierson starts to notice that Paul & Pamela may not be as happy as they portray. When Pamela's true nature is revealed, and she leaves a wake of chaos and devastation behind, can the Pierson family ever find peace again?

Just...WOW. This is based on a true story so with that in mind, although I did struggle to get into this one, I ended up engrossed in all the crazy, chaotic maliciousness and just down right evil. Once I got into the flow, around 25ish% I could NOT put this down. Food? What's that? Work? Ppssshh..it can wait. I smell and need a shower? OK but first ... JUST ONE MORE CHAPTER.

I am not sure if the author meant for this to be read as a YA. The Road We Took definitely has that feel to me, which isn't a bad thing at all. I think this would be a good read for both teens and adults.

I would say this would be appropriate for teens from 14 and up. However, that being said, there are vague references to child sexual abuse so I would definitely keep that in mind and read this before providing copies to any young minds.

This is a fairly quick read, and flows very well. The characters are loveable and despicable, as intended, and this story will have your heart brimming and breaking.

With books like these I can't help the revulsion I feel towards the Nazis and their treatment of ones they deemed inferior. I also can't help the tears that fall while reading experiences that people suffered at their hands. I will never understand that sort of thinking.

The Author's Note at the beginning of the book should be read, as this is based on a true account of her father's journey in Germany at the start of Hitler's rise.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and Books Forward for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.

3.5 rounded to a 4

This one was hard for me rate as the story itself is heartbreaking and hurt to read. I could not believe that parents, even adoptive ones, would be so harsh and treat their daughter so poorly. She was 13 and had an extremely traumatic experience, ends up pregnant as a result, and is then tossed out as garbage. All without the parents even considering how she must feel or even attempting to find out what happened. They just assumed the worst. Seriously!!! I wanted to smack her mom and dad.

I do admire Rachel as she attempts to rebuild her life and raise her son. She never gives up and moves forward with love and hope in her heart despite everything that happened to her.

What didn't work for me, hence the 3.5 stars, was the rushed writing and somewhat choppy chapters. I felt like some parts of Rachel's life could have been expounded on more while other parts could have been shortened to make a more well-rounded read. We know little to nothing about Tom and Jess. They have such a huge tie-in with Rachel's story but they are essentially left out in the cold.

Overall though, this was an interesting read and one I would recommend.