Turn to Me by Becky Wade

Turn to Me - Becky Wade - 5 Stars - Wonderful final book in the series!

Turn to Me by Becky Wade is the 3rd and final book in the Misty River Series and I LOVED IT SO MUCH! 5 stars! Ya’ll, this series is one of my favorites of all time. Top tier Christian Romance stories full of love, faith, heartbreak, redemption, grace, humor and real life characters you can relate to with real life problems.

In this final installment, we follow Luke Dempsey and Finley Sutherland. Luke is the last of the Miracle 5 that has always distanced himself from the rest of the group. He was recently released from prison after serving time for felony theft and promised a fellow inmate and friend, which happens to be Finley’s father, right before he passed away, that he would help piece together the clues for a treasure hunt for his daughter. Finley’s father was worried others will be searching for the treasure so he trusts Luke to protect Finley as he helps her find this missing treasure.

Finley is the owner of an animal rescue center and accepts Luke’s help for the treasure hunt. What Luke doesn’t know is Finley is secretly working to help him along the way with his own emotions, healing and forgiveness for his past.

Luke and Finley were a delight to see together from their first meeting, I loved them so much ya’ll! Their relationship was so real, raw and beautiful. They made me laugh the entire time together and had the BEST banter! Both of them have been through some VERY hard times in life and it was beautiful to see them work through their troubles together, helping one another along the way – discussing faith, forgiveness, growth, etc.

There were times when the mystery portion dragged, but I still think this is a 5 star read as the ending was PERFECT as we truly got to see Luke’s rough exterior start to shed and open up as we saw how much he cared for Finley and would do anything for her. It was also nice to see Ben finally get his happy ending as well.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4617866257
Amazon: https://amzn.to/44K2Lu5
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/405411
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuFKv2eeju0

The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham

 

The Cairo Curse - Pepper Basham - 4.5 Stars - If you love Agatha Christie, Clue, The Mummy, Indiana Jones, Cozy Mysteries and a romance with the best chemistry – LOOK NO FURTHER! (Book 2 in the Fredrick and Grace Mystery Series)

The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham is the perfect fun, wild and exciting sequel to The Mistletoe Countess that will keep you on the edge of your seat the ENTIRE time! Again, I know I will enjoy anything Pepper writes because it’s ALWAYS a good story that transport you exactly where our characters are!

While The Mistletoe Countess is still my favorite, The Cairo Curse was such a wonderful follow up of Grace and Freddie back at their mystery solving game – this time they’ve taken a detour from their honeymoon to Egypt ready to explore the pyramids, tombs, mummies, artifacts and so much more – when all of a sudden, their trip soon takes a dangerous turn with murders happening left and right. Suspects start to mount up and Grace and Freddie attempt to solve the mysterious happenings in Egypt!

The characters truly make this story ya’ll. Grace and Frederick are the BEST couple. They have great faith in God, respect and honor each other and I love how realistic they are together in their romance.

While I did get a smidge slowed down in some of the Egyptian details as I am not familiar with it, I love all of the research, time and details Pepper put into explaining the setting and history! It was a setting that truly came to life off the page and I LOVED seeing that.

This story will captivate you from the first chapter and is full of adventure, faith, love, great characters, vivid setting and an exciting ending! You will laugh and be filled with joy as your follow Grace and Freddie on this mysterious journey in Cairo! SO much fun y’all! So many humorous scenes where you just laugh and smile and ya’ll – that’s more of what we need in this world! JUST LOVE.

Highly recommended! Thank you to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy to honestly read and review. I did pre-order my own physical copy of course because they just look PERFECT together on my shelf! If you haven’t read The Mistletoe Countess, please pick it up so you can experience all the joy from Grace and Freddie that I have! 😊

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5057958448
Amazon: https://amzn.to/46OUx5J
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/480459
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuFKv2eeju0

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

 

Around the World in 80 Days - Jules Verne - 4 Stars - Fun adventures with Phileas!

What a fun adventure! I loved following Phileas Fogg around the world in 80 days! He was so kind and kept moving on his journey, no matter what life threw at him. I did get bogged down sometimes but overall enjoyed it and it makes you want to travel the world! I want to watch an adaptation now, because I think it would be so much fun to see this travel story come to life! I listened to the Jim Dale audiobook narration and it was amazing. Jim Dale can narrate so well! I feel like the characters really make this story! The whole plot of the story is Phileas Fogg has wagered 20,000 pounds (and his honor) to go around the world in 80 days. He says it can be done so he sets out to do just that. So many people doubt him but he plans to make this happen, no matter what. It's also a beautiful ending, that last page was so beautiful to read. This book had me laughing and just pulling for Phileas the entire time!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5315186606
Amazon: https://amzn.to/46HsrcJ
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuFKv2eeju0

Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

 

Left Behind - Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins - 5 Stars - This book truly encouraged my faith.

5 stars. First time reading this, and wow, what an emotional and faith filled impact. This book truly encouraged my faith and made me stop and take time to check my heart and faith walk with the Lord. Many of you already know this book is surrounding the rapture of Christ's believers. Many movies have been made and I really want to watch them now because I am so invested in this series now.

We follow Rayford Steele, who is a pilot. All of a sudden on a flight back home, passengers randomly disappear without any trace or cause, with their belongings and clothes left behind. Rayford's thoughts lead to the rapture as it's something his Christian wife always talked about. With the world in an uproar trying to figure out what happened, Rayford sets out to figure out things for himself too. When he realizes his wife and son are gone, but his daughter Chloe and him are part of those left behind, they work together to piece everything together from what the bible tells them.

Then we are also following Buck Williams, who is a journalist and passenger on Rayford's flight. He is trying to tell the story of what has happened here and gets completely intertwined in it all. We follow Buck as he is working to investigate everything from all angles. We also have several side characters that leave a huge impact to the story. We slowly start to see biblical prophecy come to past from the book of revelation in this story and our characters try to figure out what is going on and where they are in the middle of it all.

I loved this so much. What a wild ride and THAT ENDING had me in a chokehold ya'll. I need to read the second book sooner than later. This is such a well developed series with engaging characters that will keep you on the edge of your seat and NEEDING to know what happens next. It truly gives you a glimpse into what the end times could look like for us on earth and truly is eye opening to some things that are already occurring in today's world.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5297935765
Amazon: https://amzn.to/44GsTpI
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmUXgZGhqm4&t=64s

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes

 

Set the Stars Alight - Amanda Dykes - 3.5 Stars - Poetic, whimsical and magical.

This book took me a while to get through but I’m glad I finished! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 on Goodreads. Amanda Dykes’ writing style is poetic, whimsical and magical. I liked our characters, storyline and mysterious aspect throughout the book. However, because I had to spend so much time trying to figure out what was going on throughout the story, specifically early on, it wasn’t a favorite read of mine. That is more of a personal thing – not necessarily anything against the book or author itself, so I’m rating this based on my personal reading experience. I know I missed several things in this story along the way, but I sort of challenged myself to get through this and see how I felt, and I am so glad I did. What a beautiful story of love, loss, history and magical stories.

The story is a multi-timeline historical fiction, with snippets of romance throughout the story. It’s hard to describe Amanda’s writing style without saying magical, flowery, poetic, artistic, etc. She writes so beautifully though that I sometimes miss what’s going on – again a personal thing. I also had a hard time keeping up with the many different timelines at the beginning but once we got going, I was ok with the timeline switches because they stayed the same.

We follow early 2000s and 2020 with our characters Lucy and Dash. They are best friends from a very young age. Dash doesn’t have parents so he lives with his Aunt who isn’t very fond of him. So, Dash ends up becoming a big part of Lucy’s family very young. Her Dad tells these beautiful stories, so they are a perfect family together…. When one day, Lucy’s mother passes away and her entire family is changed. The stories become a way to reach into their grief and fight the darkness surrounding them. Dash ends up going away to school, leaving Lucy with her sick father. Lucy always loved the stories her father would tell and one story she is interested in is the missing HMS Jubilee ship. She pulled books of maritime history, shipwrecked mystery, and ocean currents as she has always wanted to know about this shipped disappearance. Cut to 200 years prior in the early 1800s, we follow Frederick Handford who is goes abord the Jubilee ship, proving to be full of courage and kindness. Frederick is considered to be a traitor to England, but in this story we learn all about the missing ship and the secret story of his past with his friend Elias and Juliette….

What a multi-layered story that Amanda interweaved two timelines together for us to learn all about each character’s journey throughout their lives. We have so much sadness throughout the journey but we always have hope, light and faith that things will work out for the best.

The way this story ended and tied everything together was beautiful. I wish I had a better reading experience personally throughout, but still overall appreciate the story and glad I finished. This was my first Amanda Dykes book and I plan to check out Yours is the Night and All the Lost Places at least. 

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5255587397
Amazon: https://amzn.to/44E9czr
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/38598
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmUXgZGhqm4&t=64s

Series Review: Perfect World Manga Books 1-9

 

 

Perfect World Manga Series - Books 1 through 9

Some of these below are actual reviews, others are just thoughts....wanted to just put all this in one review post. Overall, I liked the ending in book 9 (need to read book 10 and 11) but I didnt feel the need to after book 9. This book shows us what it means to be disabled in such a beautiful way but the angst and love triangles bothered me so I had mixed feelings throughout the series as you will see below.

Book 1 Review: 4 Stars

This is such an adorable manga that will grip at your heart strings. We see all the struggles our main male character goes through, as he is disabled in a wheelchair, while trying to help others in his job. The main characters met originally in high school but this takes place many years later as they are adults in their careers, where they meet again. Loved our main guy and girl together so much. The ending was precious. I just want them to be happy together! My heart. Cant wait to continue on. I loved this so much. So emotional and I’ve never read a manga like this before! A few places of mild language for reference.

Book 2 Review: 3.5 Stars

Wow this series is so emotional and stressful but so good! As we continue to follow our main characters and their romance, some stressful situations start to pop up for our characters. Looks like we have some love triangles coming in that I’m not crazy about but still a engaging manga that truly lets us in on the struggles of someone disabled and in a wheelchair. From his every day life to trying to have a relationship, you truly feel for the characters in this story as they try to navigate everything together. I would be ok with the other guy coming in for the love triangle, but the nurse has gotta go😝😝😝😝

Book 3 Thoughts: 4 Stars

YALL THE ANGSTTTTTTTTTT AHHHHHHH. AND TO END ON A CLIFFHANGER I GOTTA GO TO BOOK 4. THANKFUL TO HAVE ON LIBRARY DIGITAL LOAN🤣🤣🤣

Book 4 Thoughts: 3.5 Stars

My heart is breakkkkinngggggg for these characters! I need happiness! Lol going to take a break on these for a bit, phewwwww. Still such a great series. But I’m a bit frustrated right now with the characters😭😆

Book 5 Thoughts: 3 Stars 

OK YALL —-ahhhh I’m frustrated 😭😭😭😭so much heartache 💔💔💔💔

Book 6 Thoughts: 2.5 Stars

Didn’t love this one - Just ready for the ending 🤣🤣🤣🤣💀
unnecessary language (God’s name in vain) and just tired of the love triangles

Book 7 Thoughts: 3.5 Stars - no thoughts added on goodreads.

Book 8 Thoughts: 4 Stars

Loveddddd this one so much more. AHHH finally getting back to where I want to be with our main characters!!

Book 9 Thoughts: 5 Stars

LOVE LOVE LOVE. SO MUCH HAPPINESS. MY HEART😍😍😍 I got emotional!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmUXgZGhqm4&t=64s

Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

 

Beyond the Wand - Tom Felton - 4 Stars - A fun life story of the one we all know as Draco Malfoy!

What a fun life story of Tom Felton, the one we all know as Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter. I listened to the audiobook and read the physical copy - as Tom narrates this himself. I enjoyed learning about his experience as a child actor on set, his family, values, shenanigans, relationships with his co-stars and so much more. This does have some heavy language throughout but overall I had so much fun reading this and hearing his story. It was wild to hear about his life as a real life teenager and being bullied for being Draco in the movies! I did not expect that. The ending really touched me as he talked about troubles in his life and what it means to be "truly rich" in life. If you are a Harry Potter fan, I highly recommend this because he talks mostly about his Harry Potter acting life throughout the story. *Also added bonus because we get a forward from Emma Watson and a chapter on Dramione :)

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5287040144
Amazon: https://amzn.to/43oFahw
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmUXgZGhqm4&t=64s