Small Island by Toby Neal

Kat is a member of the Secret Service who has been working as the Postmaster in Ohia, Hawaii. It's not the direction she had envisioned her career taking, but the job has been growing on her. And more often than she would have expected, her Secret Service training has been very helpful. With more than one recent murder, members of a mafia-like organization setting up a business on the island, and a group of elderly ladies fighting to protect their small town from a questionable housing development nearby, Kat has been kept quite busy doing much more than just running a busy post office. And it looks like things are only about to get more interesting for her.

This was an enjoyable cozy mystery. The feel of a small, close-knit community in an island paradise comes through quite clearly. I enjoyed watching Kat work to solve another murder as well as protecting the friends she has made from becoming yet another set of victims of the criminal organization that appears to be operating out of New Ohia. And all this while learning how to run the post office by herself, striving to overcome her PTSD, and beginning a relationship with the handsome, Hawaiian pilot, Keone.

I especially loved watching Kat and Tiki, the feral cat who lives in her house, begin to trust each other and to care for and depend on each other. Their relationship parallels the developing relationship between Kat and Keone. It isn’t easy for someone with PTSD to trust and not run away from a new relationship, and watching Kat and Keone learn to trust and allow their feelings to develop despite their fears, was just as enjoyable as watching Kat & Tiki doing the same.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries that take place in a tropical setting, enjoyed the previous book in this series, or have enjoyed any of the author’s other books, then I believe you will also enjoy this book.

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The Erotica Cryptids Collection by Honey Cummings

This Book is a collection of three erotica novellas involving Shifters who are more commonly recognized as Cryptids. In This book, there is a story about a Sasquatch, a Chupacabra, and a Jersey Devil.  Each of these stories is very well written and quite entertaining. 

In the first story, a Sasquatch finds himself stuck in his Bigfoot form, unable to return to his human one, and left behind in the woods by his friends. Things seem to get worse for him when a Sasquatch hunter arrives on a camping trip with his girlfriend and sets up their camp nearby. In the second story, a Chupacabra is having trouble controlling both his shifts and his cravings at the same time as the woman he was in love with, but who had left to marry another man, returns to town. The third story involves a Jersey Devil who runs a casino and a woman whose pastor fiance she had just caught having sex with another woman.

I received a review copy of this book, and while I'm not normally very fond of erotica, I do enjoy the stories written by this author. The plots of these three tales were captivating, and in each case, I wanted to know how each story ended. Despite my not being a fan of erotica, this book held my interest throughout all three tales. Often, I’ve found that books that are classified as erotica are more graphic sex than story, but that has not been the case with this author. The books that I have reviewed of hers have been well-written, with plots that draw the reader in and hold their attention. And as such, I do actually find myself enjoying reading her books.

I believe that this is a collection of stories from previously published books by this author, though I am not entirely certain. But if I am correct, I expect that the full novels that each of these stories were from would be just as enjoyable

If you are a fan of erotica, you will love the stories in this book, and if you are more like me, enjoy a good story and don’t mind the explicit and graphic sex scenes, then I think you will also enjoy these stories. They present a unique take on three specific types of Cryptids, so those who enjoy reading about Cryptids will also likely enjoy this book. Just remember, this is not a book meant for younger readers; this is an erotica novel after all.

https://amzn.to/3TiDnaF (Amazon link)

https://4horsemenpublications.com/product/the-erotic-cryptid-collection-urban-legend-erotica-collection-book-7/ (link to the book on the publisher's website)

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Taylor and the Red Wolf Rescue by JB Moonstar

A family of Red Wolves living on what was supposed to be a wooded preserve where they were supposed to be safe, is now in danger. The land was sold to a developer who is tearing down the forest and has sent for a hunter to remove the protected and endangered animals. However the hunter's plan does not involve keeping them alive and relocating them; he plans to kill and sell their hides for profit. Taylor, a young boy in leg braces, and Knocker, the First Guardian of Ituria, appear to be all that stands between the wolves & the hunter. Can they manage to save these endangered animals?

I received a review copy of this book, and even though I am not the intended audience, I enjoyed reading it. This is an early chapter book meant for mid-grade readers. And while it does teach about Red wolves, why they are endangered, and why they should be protected, it was also a very interesting story. It does not read like a book that is trying to teach something, but as a parent, you quickly learn to recognize books with a lesson or moral hidden inside. The story itself was fun, and I think that younger readers would enjoy reading it.

And while it is the second book in a series, these books do appear to stand on their own, requiring no knowledge of anything that occurred in the previous books. In other words, this series can easily be started from any book in the series; you need not start with book one. If you have kids who are currently reading short chapter books, I'd recommend having them take a loo at this series. I think they'd enjoy it.

https://amzn.to/49tilwV (Amazon link)

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Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Mail Order Bride Bride Flaws by Florence Linnington

Maisie Clark had A bright future ahead of her as a Chicago Socialite. Her life seemed pretty close to perfect. Until, that is, a runaway carriage ran over her leaving her seriously injured and with a large scar marring her face. It felt like she lost everything that day. The men who had pursued her before the accident all lost interest when her beauty was permanently marred.

In the end, her closest friend convinced her to write to someone advertising n a matrimonial newspaper. Based on the town and the man's initials, she thought she knew who she was exchanging letters with, but when she arrived in the town of Goldenbrook, it turned out the the AW she was writing, was not the man she had assumed those initials belonged to. Instead, it was Adam Clark… her brother’s ranching partner.

This was one of the sweetest of Ms. Linnington’s mail order bride stories that I have read. Though it begins with a case of mistaken identity, it doesn’t take long before it no longer matters to Maisie. As always, there are problems to overcome and secrets that come to light at unfortunate moments, but those aren’t the large problems that you might expect. Instead, the big challenge involves Adam purchasing the general store shortly before a newer, fancier one opens a competing business. Can Maisie and Adam find a way to keep their store in business, or will they be the ones who have to close instead?

I received a review copy of this book, and as always, I enjoyed reading Ms. Linnington’s latest tale. It was a sweet and very heartfelt story that included many of the themes as her previous books, but also showed that no matter how difficult a challenge a person may face, if they face it head on and don’t give up, they will come out on the other side stronger, and better than they might have initially believed 

If you have enjoyed any of Ms. Linnington’s other novels or enjoy reading mail order bride stories, then you should enjoy reading this hopeful and sweet story.

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Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Blast Off with Gabby and Maddox by Steve Altier

Gabby and her younger brother Maddox are off another fantastic adventure. This time, they are going to outer space. Will things go smoothly, or will things get as interesting as they always seem to with these two. If you guessed that things will not go quite as planned, then you guessed right.

This is a fun second installment in the Gabby and Maddox series of chapter books intended for younger readers. I received an Advance Review Copy of this book, and like the first book in the series, it takes the reader on a fun ride once again, this time involving outer space, aliens, and a mystery that needs solving. It's a fun story that I believe younger readers will enjoy. (Obviously, I'm a little old to be the target audience, but I still enjoyed the tale myself.)

So if you have a younger reader who enjoys fantastic adventures in chapter books that aren't too long for them, I'd suggest giving this series a try. I think they might enjoy it.

https://amzn.to/3wx8843 (amazon link)

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https://4horsemenpublications.com/product/blast-off-with-gabby-and-maddox-gabby-and-maddox-adventure-series-book-2/ (link to the book on publisher's website)

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Hunting for the Lamb of God by Jamey O’Donnell

When enemy nations execute a plan to destroy the United States, the population is completely unprepared. Multiple EMP blasts are set off over the main continent, causing everything electronic that was not kept either below ground or in a Faraday cage to be rendered useless. In the early days, many people die, and only those who are lucky, prepared for any emergency, willing to help others, or who prey upon other survivors seem to find ways to survive. But for how long?

This book begins by painting a grim picture for humanity. But there is always hope if you know where to look for it. In this book, for many people much of that hope comes from religion. (The title of the book should suggest that religion is a big part of this story.)

I received a review copy of this book, and I had a little trouble getting into the story. It begins with what felt to me like partisan politics. Had the author used a fictional current and previous president, it likely wouldn't have bothered me, but I disliked the representations used of the actual people. (And to be fair, it would have bothered me no matter which way the apparent political leanings went.)

That being said, once I got past the opening set-up, the story became more interesting and entertaining, and mostly without the political aspects that I found so distracting. At that point, the characters and their survival took center stage and captured my interest. While much of it is a bit dark, it also contains a great deal of hope. And watching the two main families come together as one extended family, helping each other to survive, and coming up with a plan together did hold my interest through to the end. 

This book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger that clearly leads into a sequel.  If you enjoy post-apocalyptic novels with a strong religious theme, once you get past the political opening background (Or if you don't mind the apparent partisan politics), then you'll likely enjoy this book. 

Rating this one for Amazon was difficult for me. I would consider it a solid 3.5 stars, but Amazon only allows reviewers to give full stars, so I had to spend some time considering whether to post it as a three or a four star book. After a great deal of thought, I decided that I had to give it three stars. My reason as to why being that when comparing the enjoyment this book gave me with the many other books that I chose to give four stars to, while I did enjoy this book (once I got past the opening setup), that opening setup made it less enjoyable for me than the four star books that I have reviewed. It was a good book, but had it used entirely fictional characters rather than the actual people who were elected, I don’t believe that it would have contained the issues I found distracting, and I would have given it four stars instead.

https://amzn.to/3T39vzb (Amazon link)

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Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Russ and the Hidden Voice by JB Moonstar

While he was in the woods trapping rabbits to help feed his family, a boy named Russ is attacked by two men who blindfold him, tie him up, and throw him in the river to drown as they steal his rabbits & run off. Fortunately for Russ, he was secretly being observed by Ituria & Knocker. They save his life and bring him back to Ituria's Island, where they hope he can help them save their trees from a mysterious illness that is killing them. (Russ's mother is a farmer & has taught him a great deal about plants.)

The interesting thing about the situation is that Ituria is a unicorn & Knocker is a dragon. And their island is actually a sanctuary inside the moon where Ituria has been rescuing those animals that would have been killed by mankind without his help. It is a strange situation, but young Russ is determined to help them.

I received a review copy of this book and enjoyed reading it. The book is intended for  children who are starting to enjoy reading chapter books. It is about 80 pages long, and the story was something that I think many kids around that age would enjoy. It was neither too advanced for those on the younger end nor too simplistic for those on the older end.

As an adult reading this story, I enjoyed it and finished it in about a half a day. I may not be its target audience, but I still enjoyed this fantasy adventure, and even learned a few things that I didn’t know about both plants and the moon. I believe that those who are in the right age group will very much enjoy this book, and I hope that I will get the chance to review other books in this series in the future.

https://amzn.to/49QTbIx (Amazon link

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https://4horsemenpublications.com/product/russ-and-the-hidden-voice-the-ituria-chronicles-book-1/ (link to the book on the publisher's website)

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.