BookLoverAmanda

  Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn  5 BIG Stars! Book 1 in the Gossamer Falls Series From the moment I picked this book up, I was hooked! Really enjoyed the romance most of all. We have such emotional depth of Landry and Cal's journey together. Lynn H. Blackburn delivers a heartfelt blend of romance, suspense, healing and I loved it! Landry is determined to rebuild her life with her daughter near Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. Her previous abusive relationship with her husband caused a lot of trauma for her and now that he is gone, she wanted to provide a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction on their new home. Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and wants a family of his own. When Landry comes in with her daughter, he grows close to them but due to circumstances of his past experiences, he feels like he needs to keep his distance. That's obviously not a possibility the more he gets to know them :) But before Landry's home ca...

  🥠 💌 Misfortune and Mr. Right by Savannah Scott  🥠 💌 📖✨ 4 Stars📖✨ If you love a good enemies-to-lovers romance packed with witty banter, undeniable chemistry, a touch of  ✨ whimsical magic ✨  and a pride and prejudice vibe -- Misfortune and Mr. Right is a DELIGHT! Olivia and Logan have spent their entire lives as rivals --it's always been a competition. One day, they see each other while out on a run and they realize they are living in the same apartment building. Now that they are next-door neighbors, fate and some very well-timed fortune cookies...have other plans ;)  This was so charming with some great laugh out loud moments and an overall heartwarming romance. Even if you are not an enemies to lovers person, I think this one is PERFECT because it is really done in a "pride and prejudice style" way. The BANTER is top tier! I love how Logan has always cared about her and we get to really see how things unfold with them.  If you enjoy romcoms with ...

🏚️🔍Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl🏚️🔍 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is probably my 9th or 10th Nancy Mehl read, and every time she just brings such great suspense and faith content to the table! Nancy delivers an intense and gripping read in this first book of the Erin Delaney Mystery Series! We have psychological depth and small town intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat reading! Set in Tennessee at a cabin in the Smoky Mountains, Mehl sets the stage with an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. The isolated cabin, chilling cries in the night and the looming presences of a ruthless serial killer create QUITE the spooky environment!  Our main character, Erin Delaney, is finding solace at the cabin with her friend Kaely Quinn as she confronts the ghosts of her past. Erin is a best selling author who writes mysteries & a former police officer who has been through a lot, so taking a break is much needed for her. The town of Sanctuary turns out to be filled with chaos as police...

Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham 4 Stars ✨🔥💙📖🏰💛🌿☕💫 💛Enemies to More -more Grumpy style than anything :) 💛Found Family 💛Funny Heroine 💛Quirky Characters 💛#HotScot 💛Sweet Read 💛A Cute Kid and His Dog 💛A Kilt! 💛Scotland 💛Some Faith Elements Once again, Pepper enchants you again with a heartfelt romance filled with a rich setting, witty banter and characters with depth! Set in the breathtaking country of Scotland, we follow travel writer Katie Campbell who embarks on a 3 week Edwardian experience. What begins as a professional journey turns into one of self-discovery, unexpected friendships and an irresistible connection with a BROODING SCOT! Sign. Me. Up!  Katie is a "wee bit lost", having spent her life bouncing from place to place, never really setting anywhere. She deep down wants a feeling of HOME and finds it here. Enter our handsome SCOT -- Graeme -- who is a great, hardworking family man and you have one great relationship that develops between the two....

The Enemy by Sarah Adams - 4 stars I liked this book pretty good. I read a mix of the old edition and the new via audio. Reading with my friend Melissa made it a more enjoyable experience too. I compared the editions and honestly, the changes were not too much thankfully, unlike the way The Match was. (See my review on that book if needed) We have enemies to lovers, obviously from the title. He fell first, childhood (high school) enemies, happily ever after - pretty good tropes. It did borderline going on too long for the enemies thing with the girl but I am glad things turned when they did. We follow Ryan and June. Ryan is back in town for a wedding and our main girl June does NOT want to see him again. Unfortunately she has to because they go to the same wedding and see each other. Ryan's always loved her but his "antics" back in high school were really "flirting" and she never fully saw it as that because he walked away from their almost kiss back then. Here ...

  Dead End by Nancy Mehl - Book 3 in the Kaely Quinn Profiler Series  4.5 Stars Great conclusion to the series! I love Nancy's writing - she can write a suspense like no other. We follow Kaely Quinn from events in books 1 & 2 and learn more about her father's past and the copy cat killer who is repeating her father's crimes. Kaely went into her role as a behavior analyst because of what her father's crimes were and now we have someone copying them. Her and Noah are back together figuring things out together, talking to her father directly and by the end, you will be satisfied with how things wrap up. Nice to see a little romance with them finally wrap up too.  Not much to say here since its book 3 of the series, but I highly recommend it for the good faith elements, suspense and light romance thread. People who aren't crazy about romance in books would love this series because the main focus is the suspense/mystery.  4.5/5 Stars Baker Book House:  https://ba...

  Not Quite by the Book by Julie Hatcher 4.5 Stars I really enjoyed this one! Julie Hatcher is also Julie Anne Lindsey, who writes cozy mysteries under that name, Jaqueline Frost and Bree Baker. I loved her books so I had to try this new women's fiction book by her! I DEVOURED this audiobook in 1 day! Liked it so much, I bought a physical copy! It if was not for some of the language used in this book, it would be 5 stars. [5-6 F words, some S words etc.] But it was not so much language that it took me out the story too much. We have Emma Rini as our main girl here who needs to take time for herself. Her sister is pregnant with her first baby, her parents are about to retire and travel and Emma is just taking everything in stride by being the one who continues to take care of everything! I related to that SO much because I am always having to take care of my parents/brother's stuff it seems like and try to keep the family together.  Emma can't remember the last time she was ...

  The Match by Sarah Adams - 4 Stars NOTE: THIS REVIEW IS ON THE ORIGINAL PUBLISHED 2020 EDITION SHOWN ABOVE. I WILL BE OUTLINING DIFFERENCES BELOW IN THE NEW EDITION VS THIS ONE BECAUSE I READ IT ON EBOOK ALONGSIDE THE ORIGINAL VERSION. While I really enjoyed the story in the original edition and would give it a solid 4-star rating, I wanted to share some thoughts on how the newer edition differs, in case it helps you decide which version might be the best fit for you o r if you want to read the new edition or not.  I know many of my followers here really want to know about the level of detail for sexual content, language etc., in books, so I try to let you know these things. First, I highly recommend the original edition if you can find it. Unfortunately, with the new release, the older version is harder to come by, but I found it to be a sweeter, more wholesome read. The new edition made some noticeable changes that didn’t work as well for me, personally. (See details outli...

Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin Book #3 in the Baby Sitters Club Graphic Novel Series 5 Stars This was great! A favorite. I love Mary Anne and Dawn being a new girl to the group. Love seeing Mary Anne step up to her Dad and let him know how she was feeling and the stuff the girls uncovered from her Dad and Dawn's mom - super sweet. The Baby-sitter club girls got into a huge fight so Mary Ann eats alone in the cafeteria and finds a new friend in Dawn. Mary Anne's mama passing away when she was little and her father as a single father is a great layer that many kids could relate to.  This is all about a shy girl who saves the day -- and shows kids how important it is to forgive, apologize and help others. We also saw an emergency arise and how the kids handled it was great. Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7410440008 Amazon:  https://amzn.to/3FBBOl1 *Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links...

  Every Deadly Suspicion by Janice Cantore  4 stars This was a really unique take in Christian Romantic Suspense! I have not seen this type of plot before and really enjoyed it. My first Janice Cantore book and not my last. This would be a 3.75-4 star read for me. The book is set in Dry Oaks, California where Chief of Police Hanna Keyes has long believed her father, Joe, is a murdered, justly imprisoned for his crimes. She learns he is dying and is given compassionate release from prison. She doesn't consider him her father and doesn't want anything to do with him because of his crimes. But can he be the one to help her with cracking the cold case of the alleged murders? She agrees to oversee his care. Hanna's first love Jared shows up and they are working together. Feelings emerge but we also have a bit of a love triangle involved some. I really liked the suspense aspect, but found the romance could have been more strong. There is also a lot going on here with the case, he...

Odder by Katherine Applegate - 5 Stars A Beautiful Middle Grade Story From what I have understood, Katherine Applegate has a gift for writing emotionally compelling animal stories, and Odder is no exception. This was my first book by this author and I am looking forward to reading more.  This is a beautiful book written in verse and it tells the story of a playful and curious sea otter who finds herself in a life-changing situation. This book is inspired by real-life otter rescue and rehabilitation efforts and she blends facts with a deeply moving story about survival, resilience, and the connection between humans and wildlife. I think the verse format works well for this story because it keeps the story light with Odder's joyfulness but also delivers a powerful emotional story. This is a must-read for animal lovers and anyone who enjoys crafted storytelling with an important message.   Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5385195840 Amazon: https://amzn.to/4...

  🏈The Run Option by Annah Conwell🏈 Book 3 in the More Than A Game Series 4 Stars Really liked this one! You know I love a good marriage of convenience trope and mix it with sports romance -  ✨ SIGN. ME. UP! ✨   Let's face it. JASON KINGSLEY THO. Such a great MMC in this book! He is my favorite MMC so far in this series. He falls for Willow first and I loved his inner monologue and their banter - but I love good snarky banter in books and THIS BROUGHT IT! Willow does marketing for the football team. When her visa doesn't get renewed properly she is subject to being deported back to Canada in the next 60 days. When Jason is seen carrying Willow out of a party because she hurt her ankle, the press runs wild with the photos - damaging their reputation together. Jason knows Willow's situation because she had a little too much to drink and spills all her struggles to him while he takes her home. The next day, he proposes a marriage of convenience if you will - to help her be...

  Montana Abduction Rescue by Jodie Bailey - 3 Star This is part of the Mountain Country K-9 Unit series but can be read as a standalone book. I like this one for the dogs - always a fan of books with dogs and they are awesome in this one. This was a new to me author also. If you like love inspired suspense books, this will be one you enjoy. We have Ian Carpenter and Meadow Ames - along with her K-9 partner Grace. This one had lots of action because they are trying to find Ian's cousin who has been abducted. Ian was in witness protection because he had put a crime boss behind bars, but after his death, he has left the program only to run right into an ambush. Ian and Meadow work together through all of the crazy situations, falling for one another along the way. Pretty good love inspired suspense books - don't take the 3 star to heart here because I think a 3 star for these books is pretty good. These are always quick reads and listens for me that I generally enjoy. Thanks to t...

🌷🔑 The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett🌷🔑 5 Stars  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ OK - why have I waited so long to read this my friends?! Such a good, timeless children's classic. This has beautiful themes of healing, friendship and nature. You know I had to watch the 1993 movie adaptation as well, which I LOVED. I never read or watched this as a child, and this still felt like a piece of my childhood somehow. I felt like a little kid again while reading and watching. We follow Mary Lennox, who is a very spoiled and neglected child, sent to live with her Uncle at his manor after her parents pass away. She is used toa life of privilege and loneliness, so she struggles with the change. She is curious when she finds a hidden, locked garden on the estate. She has the help of a new friend, Dickon and her sickly cousin Colin, who is unable to walk due to health conditions. Mary goes on this journey to restore the garden and she, along with her friends, find more than they could have ever imagin...

  Ambush by Colleen Coble  Book 1 in the Sanctuary Series 4 to 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed a new start to Colleen's new Christian romantic suspense series! This has ties to the Tupelo Grove series with her and rick, which I really enjoyed What We Hide and seeing Hez and Savannah back in this book. You can read this though without reading What We Hide. This is about Blake and Paradise. Blake Lawson is the man who broke Paradise Alden's heart many years ago. (So this is a second chance romance and I realllly liked how it was done!) Paradise has been through so much in her life - from the murder of her parents to assault - she has certainly had trauma in her life. It's 15 years later when she is back in town in Alabama and she is seeking a fresh start and also wants to figure out who was involved in the murder of her parents. While she is there, she finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation on Blake's family sanctuary preserve. Blake is helping his mothe...

  The Serendipity by Emma St. Clair - 4 Stars  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Book 1 in the Only Magic in the Building Series  What a GREAT time this book was y'all! I had so much fun reading this one!  This is ✨ENCHANTING✨ and such a ✨COZY✨ rom-com! I highly recommend.  Read if you love: ✨Grumpy/Sunshine ✨Forced Proximity ✨Clean Rom-Coms ✨Billionaire MMC ✨Baker FMC ✨Boss/Employee  ✨Whimsical Books - just a ✨HINT✨ of Magic ✨Fun Match Making Portal Closets ✨Anxiety Rep/Agoraphobia  Archer is our MMC and he is all business, no nonsense, and not very interested in the ✨magic✨ that surrounds The Serendipity, his newest purchase. He plans to flip this historic building into luxury condos but the building may have other matchmaking plans :) Willa is a baker who doesn't want her home or baking business to be destroyed. She is in her closet one day when the "portal" closet transports her to Archer's randomly! They meet with lots of tension, humor and undeniable ...

  Aggie Morton Mystery Queen - Peril at Owl Park by Marthe Jocelyn 3 Stars  Second Book in the Aggie Morton Mystery Queen Series This is a pretty fun middle grade series! This would be great for 12-13 year olds who enjoy mysteries, historical settings and smart, curious characters. While this is a very age-appropriate for middle grade readers, there are a few sentences or moments that might teeter the line for sensitive readers. Since it is a mystery, there are discussions of crimes, descriptions of blood, along with suspicions about characters and death. However, there is no graphic violence, nothing too scary in a horror sense and no inappropriate language or themes in my opinion. The tone stays light and adventurous, in line with classic detective stories like Nancy Drew. As with any book though, parents might want to read through this series a little first to see if it aligns with their comfort level for their child.  All of that said, I have enjoyed being back with A...

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Perry Book 1 in the Voice in the Wilderness Series but can be read as a standalone 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 Stars This middle grade  is a beautifully written and deeply immersive survival story, following Swift, a young wolf, on his 1,000-mile journey through the wild after getting lost from his family pack. The book does a great job capturing the dangers and wonders of nature, from forest fires to hunters, and Swift’s resilience makes for an inspiring read. The fact that it’s based on a true story adds more depth. I don't always connect with animal POVs but I really enjoyed Whale of the Wild by this author and wanted to try this one next! I think she does a great job pulling you in and making you feel like you are right there with the animal along the journey and what it might feel like in the animal's thoughts if you could see it. This is a fantastic read for anyone who loves animal stories, survival adventures, or beautifully descriptive writing.  I think ...

  Wish by Barbara O'Conner  5 Star Favorite 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This book touched my heart in the best way. This is one of those rare stories that quietly sneaks into your heart and refuses to let go. Charlie is a character I won’t forget. We open the story with her sadness of longing for a family after her mother walked away from her when she was younger and her father is in jail, so she is living with her Aunt and Uncle - it's really like a foster situation from the child's POV. She has such longing for a family and to be home in Raleigh, NC and she is not happy to be alone, without her parents and older sister, in a "hillbilly small town".  We see her navigate a new home, form an unlikely friendship with Howard (the sweetest boy!), and open her heart to a stray dog (beagle!) named Wishbone. Your heart breaks for her but you also see her growth and it's beautiful. She continues to make "wishes" along that way and where things end is not where she thinks... ...