Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

 

Twilight - Stephanie Meyer - 4 Stars - Just a fun nostalgic read :)

This book is just a fun nostalgic read and I had the best time laughing and reading through this! I did a vlog and movie commentary with my hubs and we had the best time just picking at things and remembering old times when we would go and watch the movies in theaters when we first started dating. This isn't the best book in the world of course, but again, it's not meant to be. Its a pure comfort read for me and just a fun reminder of the book series that got so many of us back into reading back in the day. My fav characters in Twilight are Alice and Jasper haha and I was always Team Edward but of course, in New moon I would switch around back and forth on that LOL. Not much of a review here, just random thoughts, but just a good time book. (But for real, how did we not see how toxic dis was back in the day LOL jkjk) Still love me some Twilight after all this time.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/361614153
YouTube Vlog - Watching / Reading Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPpTUR50HnE&t=

Murder at a Scottish Social - Traci Hall

 

Murder at a Scottish Social - Traci Hall - 2.5 Stars - Not For Me, Disappointing

This is book 3 in the Scottish Shire series and while some parts were good, most of this I didn’t love. The story kicks off when a shortbread cookie kills the “Queen Bee” of a “competitive mom clique” and Paislee Shaw, owner of Cashmere Crush Sweater Shop becomes the sleuth to figure out who added peanut butter to a cookie to kill Kristen – who was deathly allergic to peanuts – and who hid her epi pen in the process.

Set in Scotland, I do like the setting and narrator with the Scottish accent. I also do like the main character of Paislee, her son Brody and her gramps with their Scottish terrier dog Wallace. What I couldn’t stand in this story was the circle of “mean girls” – which I guess is the point, but they got on my nerves so bad. They were spoiled mean girls who had everything and still were not happy. We have them continuously saying the woman that died, Kristen, was a “b” word and they were so nasty that it reminded me of high school girls. The mystery would have been ok, but I am just not connected with most of these characters like I am in other cozy mysteries.

The good parts of this show how important it is to appreciate the small things in life, money isn’t everything, wealth can ruin you and how the author stressed the need for food banks to help others in need. We also see Paislee dealing with issues with her son in school so more of the family aspect is shown and I did like that.

I also didn’t love this content --- we have a couple who are participating in an open relationship (WHYYY), another that had cheating going on, another that was “friends with benefits”. Also didn’t love the language – it wasn’t a ton but, them calling the woman that died names the whole time bothered me. At least it was talked about as being bad, but I didn’t love these things in the story. This book is just one that wasn’t for me, personally.

Other content warnings: 1 character with bulimia, 1 character with a drinking problem, 1 character who was seeing her psychiatrist as her now husband but started when she was 16 many years ago, it was mentioned it was inappropriate but wanted to mention it.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5281755436

YouTube Chat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNfiPar0nxE

Counter Attack - Patricia Bradley

Counter Attack - Patricia Bradley - 5 Stars - Great charatcers, non-stop action, small town vibes and a second chance romance you will love!

What an AWESOME romantic suspense novel ya'll! 5 stars! A perfect start to a new series! Great characters, non-stop action, small town vibes and a second chance romance you will love and root for! This was my first Patricia Bradley novel and I loved it so much! I live in Tennessee and love all things southern - and this had some great southern vibes with small town diners, grandparents you love and small town livin' that grows on you. Patricia Bradley is a new favorite author of mine now for sure!

Counter Attack is all about Alexis Stone, who is the interim sherrif in Russell County, Tennessee. The story starts with her being undercover invesigating the serial killer known as the Queen's Gambit Killer. She's on the case when she runs into her old high school sweetheart, Nathan Landry. Now in their 30s and both in the police force, will this be their second chance at love as they work together to solve this case? As they work together, pieces of the puzzle start forming and they soon realize Alexis is now the one in danger...

What I really loved most was our main characters of Alexis and Nathan - they worked together so perfectly and seeing them come back together after so long was great. The fast paced suspense and short chapters with both POVs was great too! This is also a page turner for sure. There was also a light faith element I really liked seeing in the story, specifically when Alexis' grandmother asks her...has she prayed/asked God to guide her in the case. I read this in 1 day - it was so bingeable and fast paced - and for once, I figured out who the killer was before it was revealed! A new favorite and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Thank you to Baker Publishing, Revell and NetGalley for a copy to honestly read and review.

*Content Warnings: There were some parts of the serial killer portions that could be a little unsettling for some readers but I was ok with it. It wasn't too much for me. We have several mentions of the dark web and some tough evil things going on there. While it didn't cross the line for me, I wanted to make note for those wanting to know content. Also, several mentions of drugs as one case is directly related to busting a drug ring.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5555431920
Amazon: https://amzn.to/42X2MK3

Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/492097
YouTube Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNfiPar0nxE

 

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Love and Gelato - Jenna Evans Welch - 3.75 to 4 Stars - A fun romance that will transport you right to Italy!

This was super cute and just precious! 4 stars. Get ready to be transported to Italy with all the great food, art and romance! This is a young adult, secular romance where Lina goes to Italy - as it was her mother’s dying wish - so she could get to know her father. What she doesn’t expect is to be given a journal that her mom kept when she lived in Italy herself many years ago. Lina starts to uncover all her mother’s past secrets - when she meets Ren, short for Lorenzo 😁, and the two form a budding romance and work together to figure out everything from her Mom’s journal/past.

Overall I really liked this! It’s a really feel good story that was clean and sweet. There were a few small bits of language for content and 1 scene involving a psychic reading, but other then that it was clean. Very YA leaning but still had a good time with the story. I guess I was mostly interested in Lina’s mom’s story in her journal out of the whole story😁 the audiobook has an amazing narrator!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5516540423
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pmXedT
YouTube Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNfiPar0nxE

 

The Bark of Zorro by Kathleen Y'Barbo

The Bark of Zorro Kathleen Y'Barbo - 4 Stars - Another great read in the Gone to the Dogs series!

Who is spray painting the dogs in Brenham, Texas? That’s what Cassidy and Jason are going to try and find out in book #4 in the Gone to the Dogs book series. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this series as each book is always a cozy read with a little bit of romance. They’re just a good time!

In this book, dogs start showing up at the Lone Star Veterinary Clinic spray painted with the letter Z on them. Cassidy works at the clinic and she is trying to solve this mystery using social media and her own investigating. Then we have a handsome Game Warden, Jason Saye who comes in to help. He also has reality TV cameras following him around and that makes for some awkward situations🤣 Cassidy and Jason form a little romance, go on a couple dates, all while trying to figure out this little mystery.

I really liked Cassidy in this book- she is definitely a favorite character. I didn’t love Jason as much throughout the story but he grew on me. I loved their first date experience, I haven’t seen that in a book before. The mystery in this one was interesting and I really liked the ending. Excited to get to the next book. Thank you to the publisher for providing an e-book copy to honestly read and review.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5017005130
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CJGQas
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/482252
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNfiPar0nxE

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright

 

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau - Jaime Jo Wright - 5 Stars - A mysterious castle, a long kept secret and an ending that will leave with you with so much hope!

Wow, loved this book so much. 4.5-5 stars! Jaime Jo’s endings always have such a big reveal and leave you with such hope. This quote made me cry… “a sisterhood that is greater than fear, and a holy strength that conquers evil.” If you like mysterious castles with secrets, gothic vibes, dual timeline, a century-old mystery….great characters with a little bit of romance sprinkled in- read this!

This is a multi timeline, primarily dual timeline. We have 1801 with short updates here and there from a perspective called “the girl”. It appears to be those that originated in the castle. Then we have 1870, where orphaned Daisy Francois takes a job as a housemaid at the castle. She meets a Gothic authoress who appears to be hiding things about the castle so Daisy starts trying to piece everything together to figure out the castle’s secrets. She also has a small romance here start to bloom. Then we have present day, where Cleo Clemons is hired by this woman’s grandson who lives at the castle- he wants Cleo to help his grandmother with her hoarding tendencies throughout the castle. But there is more to meets the eye for Cleo at Castle Moreau….With a romance blooming for Cleo, secrets of her own to hide and a mystery uncovered at the castle, Cleo may get more then she bargained for in this new job…

The two timelines are tied together by the generations of people who built the castle leading up through present day, while these generations are keeping the secrets of the castle hidden and a lady in each timeline comes in trying to figure everything out with their own little romantic interest.

Some parts were a bit longer for me then others but this is so close to 5 stars for me because of the ending. That last 25% when everything was revealed….my heart. I loved what Jaime Jo did with the ending of this yall! I didn’t see it coming. Completely shocked.

This also wasn’t too creepy for me. Some parts are a little unsettling but nothing too bad. There are mentions of past child abuse but it’s off page and not detailed. The creepy level really just reminds me of stories from mysterious castles like you might see in an episode of “Are You Afraid of the Dark” 😁 Nothing too scary! Maybe some shadows lurking in the dark or someone rattling a door knob but we don’t know who/no one is there type stuff 😁

Overall, I can’t wait to dive into more of Jaime’s books as this was amazing!

Goodreads Review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5549976325
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pmExqM
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/465107
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNfiPar0nxE

A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter

 

A Novel Proposal - Denise Hunter - 4 Stars - A perfect beach read!

This was such a fun, refreshing, light contemporary romance and would be a perfect beach read! I enjoyed the characters, the writing aspect, the little free library, the romance writing 101 bits at the beginning of the chapters and the little mystery they followed surrounding the engagement ring added a nice touch to force them to bond. Some parts were a little predictable, but overall, such a cute, clean romance! I listened to the audiobook, and I was thoroughly entertained! 4 stars.

This book follows Sadie, an author of westerns, who loses her writing contract and is asked to try her hand at writing a romance story. She has never been in love and has no idea where to start with this novel so she goes to this little beach house to get away so she can be inspired to write her story. In comes the next-door neighbor in the little duplex she’s in, Sam. He’s been through a tough breakup about a year ago and hasn’t been looking for love since. They start to get close after Sadie enlists Sam to help her with this situation surrounding an engagement ring. Sam says he will help her as long as she agrees to be his +1 at his cousin (and ex-girlfriends) wedding. Sparks fly and the rest is history…..

Such a sweet romance and I’m excited to read more of Denise Hunter’s books in the future!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5366170962
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JwGMPj
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/509274
YouTube Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNfiPar0nxE