Synchronicity: A Novel by Tyler J. Yates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Renowned Thinker, Carl Jung wakes after his death in the Archetype Room with God. After an enlightening discussion over various themes and frameworks, God informs Jung that he is needed to explore the concept of synchronicity in greater depth. This is where Travis Alva Edison comes in: Travis still lives in his mother’s basement. He is a mid-twenties old man who recently realized that his life is going nowhere with no end in sight. He starts an epiphany list which he hopes will help propel him onto a meaningful life path. He meets Meg, a girl who is successful in her life (in his eyes), and they plan to meet up again soon. Throughout this all, Carl is “upstairs” watching Travis and how his life is unfolding in both expected and unexpected ways. At one point, Carl must make a decision that will have the power to alter Travis’s life forever.
This story was well written and had no grammatical errors (important to me). I thought this was an interesting concept to explore and the author did not disappoint. He fleshed out the characters, and they were well though out in terms of relationships and reactions. The pacing was steady in the beginning and then it started to pick up with the addition of the diamond find and the introduction of the Skinwalker. It certainly was an interesting book.


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Barefoot Under The Moon: A Trash To Treasure Romance by Richard Devall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So, if a book has the tagline: A Trash to treasure Romance, you know you just have to get it! I loved the characters and the story; the quirky dialogue and the even quirkier characters were awesome! Great writing and the chemistry between the characters as they traipsed about was palpable.
Poor Toby, a man recently released form prison, finds a job in a diner and subsequently finds himself in the middle of a love triangle with the two waitresses. What might seem like a great thing for a guy goes wrong hilariously when Ashley, who is gifted with seduction, gets Toby to fulfill her every fantasy. After Ashleigh returns from out of state, she is determined on seduction again, but this time she sets her sights on the third in this triangle, the other waitress. Will she be successful? Will everything fall apart for Toby? I really liked the laugh out loud moments and Toby. I felt bad for him as he was trying to navigate the world after prison and got caught up with these crazy ladies.


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SLAM DUNK: The True Story of Basketball’s First Olympic Gold Medal Team by Beth Fortenberry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The true story of the first Olympic Gold Medal Team takes us to the beginnings of the game in 1891. We learn about James Naismith who wanted to play a game that would allow him to play between the football and the baseball seasons. A Presbyterian Minster, and passionate Rugby player, he thinks of a game not seen before, and proposes to the local YMCA. As we follow him through the years, we see how his passion for the sport and the people he meets help turn the little game he invented into the powerhouse it is today. The parts about the hazing and roadblocks in Berlin were great to read, simply because it showed all the things, they overcame to still win the Olympic gold.
Well written and easy conversational style. Even though this book is based on true events, the Author Beth Fortenberry was able to make the story seem like something out of fantasy complete with highs and lows, drama that sucks you in, romance that plucks at your heartstrings and action that has you rooting for the home team of USA.


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A Rose to the Torch by Bartholomew Lander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carol is a high school student who is a secret Hemomancer in a world where being one is a certain death sentence. When she is stalked by a dangerous stranger, she stumbles into a world and war she never wanted to enter. Cast out by her family and friends, and on the run from the infamous Rosarium who wants her blood. Coral has no choice to accept the help of a mysterious group called the Orchid Veil. But are they any better than the Rosarium? And will she ever find her confidence and self-worth?
This was a fast-paced book that sweeps you up into a world where blood can be a commodity if it has the right compounds. A battle for someone’s blood can get dark quickly and we do enter some dark corners in this story. Very well written and edited, I liked Coral and am impressed with her growth throughout the book. Well Done.


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Woodrow's Wings by Mary Carlsson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wings, Wings, Wings, well we loved, loved, loved this book. I read it at bedtime a few night ago, and it has quickly become a favorite book to read even during the day. My 1st grader likes Woodrow because he is so focused on building his pair of wings that will allow him to fly. She was quick to point out how he misses out on playing with his cousins since he is so focused. I think this story is sweet and endearing and is a playful way of showing kids how practicing and sticking with something can pay off when it goes right in the end.
Woodrow wants to fly, and he is determined to build himself a pair of wings. So determined in fact, that he misses out on games and races with his cousins that are over for the day. He ends up building the wings, and figures out how to attach them to himself, but will he fly? And if he does, has he figured out how to land?


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A Journey Down Under: We live. We love. We stay. by Ace Campillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Is the grass truly greener on the other side? A young man finds out that it might not be when he travels to Australia to immigrate. With the help of his parents, he leaves the Philippines and sets his sights on the land of down under where he thinks life will be easier than he’s had so far. When he gets there, he faces hardships based upon his chosen profession (nurse) and his own insecurities that come to the fore since he is now dependent upon himself. As he grows more comfortable with his life in Australia, he must face the age-old question of: Who am I, and what will I do with my life?
Very easy to read and great editing, I found no mistakes regarding grammar or syntax. That always throws me when reading so this was very well written. I enjoyed the story and laughed and cringed along with our main character as he went through embarrassing and painful situations. A very nice story about finding yourself.


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Spirit Runner by Richard Ferguson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

2018 International readers favorite competition winner, this book is about the strength of the human spirit and grit and just what can be achieved if you truly believe in accomplishing the impossible. Ron Campbell has had an uphill struggle each day of his life after a horrible accident has mangled his legs and left them paralyzed. He has a dream of competing in the Olympics and will fight each day to achieve it. Ron, with the help of two close friends, works to overcome everybody’s stereotypical reactions and negative outlooks.
I found this story to be well written. Although there were plenty of moments I was tearing up over the bad luck and circumstances, I was heartened by the indomitable spirit of Ron. He never gave up. He never let the talk and comments get to him. This is such an uplifting novel of perseverance and hope. I truly enjoyed reading it.


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Lean On: The Five Pillars Of Support For Women In Leadership by Andreas Wilderer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gender Roles are shifting today, and the traditional view that the man goes to work, and the woman is the home maker is rapidly losing traction, especially amongst gen X and millennials who are at the ages where family life is becoming important. There is much research showing that more women in Leadership roles is beneficial to both the company and the family if done right, and in this book, the author gives us his feedback and thought on how it went when his wife went back to her executive function and he stayed home to raise the children and manage the household.
This might seem unorthodox to some, but it is possible, and it can be successful if you are both committed to fully supporting each other. The author gives us a roadmap in how we could pattern our lifestyle and he givers us tips in how to deal with common questions that will inevitably come up.


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Posted as per my oldest child's request.....

The Rise of a King: Fallen Angel, Immortal Romance Book #2 by Azriel Hope
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the series, and it does not read well as a standalone. Farrow and Rayelynn of the first book were present as prominent supporting characters to Prince Drayden and the backdrop of the Cirque. Much of the decadence of the first book has been improved upon and it draws you even deeper within the mystique of this new realm. Rayelynn is pulled between her love for Farrow and her desire for a lifestyle that she cherishes. Will Farrow be able to keep Rayelynn? Or will she succumb to his brother and the fairy realm?
I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.


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The Menopause Myth: What Your Mother, Doctor, and Friends Haven't Shared about Life After 35 by Arianna Sholes-Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m 35 and have not yet gotten my menopause. However, I am extremely interested in this time of life as I have heard all kinds of things, from horror stories about your hormonal fluctuations to “Girl, its nothing”. My doctor says don’t worry about it until it hits me. I like to be prepared and this book seemed the right thing at the right time. The author is a MD who has changed her focus from High-Risk pregnancy to the menopausal years.
Essentially, we women are getting advice from another woman who has the experience to guide us through this turbulent time. Emotions will run high; tempers will flare and through it all you might ask yourself just who am I becoming? What is my body doing? I found that this book was extremely helpful in calming my anxiety and answered many burning questions I had in a dignified and interesting manner. I highly recommend this to all the women in my life and I will most likely be giving this out for xmas gifts.


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The Outbreak of a Monstrous Infection by Afshan Naheed Hashmi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A very timely book, in the world today with the advent of the super bug and antibiotic resistance of many other viruses. In this book, a horrific infectious disease is spreading across the globe and India gets hit especially hard. When a large group of people who attended the same wedding fall ill, the CBI steps in. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India requests help from the FBI in determining the origin of this disease. Is this biological warfare? An unlucky natural mutation of an existing virus or bacterial strand?
There were very many people involved and the ultimate reveal of just what happened, and how it unfolded according to plan was very satisfying to read. There was a bit much going on in terms of number of characters and keeping track of how each person was involved, which did not lead to this being a book to read if you are trying to have a light read. This is a clear mystery with a thrilling background.


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Surviving her Dominant by T.E. Kessler
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

So, first, don’t read this book if you didn’t read the first. The author throws you into the story with no explanation of just who these aliens are, how they came to be on earth, how much integration (or lack thereof) has gone on, that sort of thing. I ended up just reading this as if both men were human and ignored the weird stuff. The writing was good as well as the editing.
I did not like Courtney, frankly I was sorry for Aldran that he was in love with her and had to deal with her. Yes, she is a victim of abuse and that is tragic. Her lying to everyone around her did not help her, nor did the constant apologizing and explaining away of abusive behavior that was directed at her. Greg was controlling, and stalking her but t a lesser extent, so was Aldran. The ending was open ended, so I’m assuming there will be another book in the series. On the fence whether I will get the next book.
I received a free ARC from Book Sirens in exchange for my honest opinion.


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Hostile Takeover by Cristelle Comby
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Oh, I wanted to love this one. Gritty urban fantasy in a world much like ours but is yet so much more. A hero who is not lily white and yet still strives to do the right thing. Even if sometimes he goes about it all wrong. This book has this, crime, drama, action, a dash of romantic tension. However, the pacing in the book is off. It goes from racing to dragging in areas which makes it very hard to read. The main character, PI Bellamy Vale has a serious chip on his shoulder in regards to his near immortality that he got when he made a deal with the devil.
Overall, this is the first in a series and the book certainly has potential from a storyline point of view. I think that the pacing needs some editing to at minimum even it out so that you do not lose readers in the middle of the book.
I received a free ARC from Book Sirens in exchange for my honest opinion.


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In Between Days by Anne Jamison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was born in 1984, so all this was done and over by the time I entered high school in the 90’s. However, I loved the 80’s culture, movies (but I hated the style, ha-ha). This book brings me to my younger years and reminded me of my own tumultuous high school years. Sammie is well off and doesn’t care what anyone thinks, especially not what bad boy Jason thinks.
The dialogue was witty and at times cringeworthy as teenagers swing from one extreme to the other. Hormones are raging out of control and one moment you hate someone’s guts, only to like-like them later. I’d certainly recommend this book to the teenagers in my life now. I think it will be relatable to them as well.
I received a free ARC from Book Sirens in exchange for my honest opinion.


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Fallen Love by Alex Stargazer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An urban fantasy with angels, demons, a brutal class system and then throw in intriguing, and strong characters. This is what you get in Fallen Love, a book about love in unexpected places if you only allow yourself to be open to finding it. Conall is the upper classman, he is surrounded by powerful people and he himself wields a great deal. Mark is a fallen, as far from power as one can get in this post-apocalyptic world. When the two meet they will have to make some hard choices and underneath it all come to terms with their feelings for each other in a world that forbids them from even frequenting the same areas.
This was interesting, I am slowly discovering more M/M authors and this one will certainly be included in my to-read category. The writing was a little rough to get into, but I found the authors rhythm around the 25% mark and was able to follow along. The characters were definitely in the “opposites attract” category but that did not lessen the appeal of the book.
I received a free ARC from BookSirens in exchange for my honest opinion.


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Mink Eyes by Dan Flanigan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Peter O’Keefe is a private detective who is on the case. The case of the Ponzi scheme with Mink up in the Ozarks. But things aren’t always what they seem, and when this battle-scarred Vietnam Vet starts digging deeper, he finds a disturbing amount of drugs, smuggling and murder intertwined in this entire operation. As he investigates, O’Keefe comes across Tag Parker, a woman who haunts him with her beauty and who is hopelessly entangled with “Mr. Canada” who is the reputed owner of the Ponzi scheme.
The story was centered on a mystery with a bit of crime thrown in. The plot meandered in places but overall it held together. Not many spelling, grammar or syntax errors which are my sticking point with a book, so that was good. A Vet myself, and my Grandfather a Vietnam era Vet, I was pleasantly surprised by the portrayal of Peter O’Keefe. He was jaded but not a caricature of Veteran stereotypes. I think that this book is a good read, it was light enough that I could enjoy it without having to think too deeply about the story to follow the plotline.


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Fire, Fog and Water: Mike Martin by Mike Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Picturesque is how I would describe the latest installment of the Sgt. Windflower mystery novels by Mark Martin. The 8th book I the installment keeps us right in line with the other mysteries, on the eastern coast of Canada. Sgt. Windflower is having a bad day when he discovers a body rolled in a carpet – what a cliché, but he has yet to figure out that this is only the beginning of a mystery that will lead him on a merry chase of clue after clue until he can apprehend the culprit all the while trying to enjoy as much food as he can.
Witty dialogue and enchanting descriptions of the coastline, this book was a wonderful read, it was lighthearted and yet had substance and the characters were smart, not dolts stumbling about. Spelling or syntax errors were nonexistent, and it shows that the writer is competent and loves his characters with the effortless writing here.


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Army of God by Dennis Bailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Noah's Ark meets Game of Thrones” is what the blurb said, and this is an apt description. Complex, intriguing and fantastical, this twist on the Bible tale of Noah and the Ark he builds will grip you and keep you spellbound until the end. I have yet to read a story that takes a biblical tale and can twist it into something so detailed and entertaining. In this twist, Noah and his family live in Eden, when a plot to kill him is thwarted by a young woman. Fleeing the city, they set out to make their own way in the world and try to survive. When they receive the order from God to build the ark, Noah faithfully adheres to this command with his family, even as they once again face attack by the city of Eden.
I am not a religious person and yet I found this to be a highly intriguing take on the tale. I know the story from reading it as a child and teenager in the bible and the various short versions of it, but this was truly unique in the plot elements the author chose to utilize. I think this will appeal to anyone who likes a good vs evil story line.


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Falling from the Light by Adam Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Charlie Doyle, a perpetual drunk, rushes his 10-year-old nephew who has just been hit by a car to the hospital. When he arrives, major damage is found to the boys’ brain and he is in a vegetative state. Did Charlie cause more damage than was there in his rush to the hospital? Wracked with guilt, Charlie descends into a downward spiral when the gossip mongers blame him, and his family life starts to unravel at the seams. Adultery, crime and more make their way into his home and he is hanging on by a thread when he is offered a job to spy on his neighbors to prevent them from committing insurance fraud. But Charlie gets the idea to search for the hit and run driver who struck his nephew, and this starts Charlies descent into an even darker spiral. Interesting suspense and who done it book, the characters were interesting, and the writing was great.

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Matt Monroe and the Haunted House by Edward Torba
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The community of Kingston is on edge. There have been unexplained, strange sightings at the Payne Mansion and disturbing incidents in the countryside further set the spooky tone of the book. We follow along with Matt, as he and his friends set out to solve the mystery of just what happened here. And if possibly the portal, that transported them into the past had also let something else through when they came back. A great haunted spooky story or kids and adults alike. My 7-year-old liked reading this book with me over the past few nights, getting ready for the Halloween spirits. This book is the second in the series, but I did not read the first. It was still easy to follow along and the writing was accessible, even if my 7-year-old were to read this on her own. I also liked that the main character was not the only one with special talents, lets hear it for the side kicks who can hold their own!

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# Side Hustle | An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Building Passive Income From Unexpected Ideas by James Bradley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you are tired of your 9-5 job and are ready to get some serious cash for some extra time spent on the side, this book might be for you. The Author, James Bradley give us the tools and the knowledge on how to turn a side hustle into a successful business that can eventually replace your regular job. This way you will be doing something you love while earning money. There are hundreds of different freelancing websites out there, Etsy, Freelancer, Fiverr just to name a few and they can all help you make money. The first thing is to figure out what you enjoy doing and then if there is a market for that thing/service.
While I found that there is good advice in this book, and valuable information within the story of the author himself, I have seen much of the information in other books before, albeit packaged a little differently. Still, this is a good book if you are new to this genre.


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Their Special Agent by Mel Gough
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A love story that s set in a murder mystery. Much action and intrigue are strewn throughout, enough the keep the story moving quickly to the conclusion. I suspected about ¾ of the way who the culprit was, but it was still a surprise on the motive. The love story does turn into a sort of reverse harem, but there is some MM action so I would classify it as a Polyamory group, rather than a reverse harem. The love scenes, while moving the relationship of the four ahead, does not detract from the overall story. I was a little unsure of her relationship with her daughter, it seemed as if the girl was sort of an after thought and thrown in, if her parts were taken out, it would not have detracted from either the story or the character development. I did enjoy the story and I will look for more books by this author.
I received a free ARC from BookSirens in exchange for my honest opinion.


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The Healthy Habit Revolution: Create Better Habits in 5 Minutes a Day by Derek Doepker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My husband is currently obsessed with how to books on how to build healthy habits and so I got this book for him. Here is his take on it:
It was easy to read, a big plus in its favor. The advice given made sense to him and encouraged him in feeling that he could actually build better habits and end up sticking with them. The author gives us a 21-day step by step approach to changing our brains and way of thinking through cues and rewards. The author starts off with his turning point, when he decided enough is enough and he needed to make a change. One piece of advice I thought was very good was that at first, practice was more important than performance. Too often I got discouraged thinking that I wasn’t doing enough, while I was not recognizing that sometimes it is better to take small steps before I run marathons.
I think that this book can be very helpful to those who are thinking of making a change and are willing ot listen to advice on the topic.


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A Spell of Murder by Kennedy Kerr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Perfect for the season, this enchanting book will keep you spellbound as you turn the pages. Each page will leave you with a desire to turn more until you reach the inevitable conclusion at the end. Temerity Love is a psychic detective and just enjoying her morning scone when she is quite literally blown into an investigation of the murder of local schoolteacher Miss Molly Baliss. Temerity knows that this is her area of expertise and she will not let anyone get in the way of her investigation, not even the local hunk of man and Police Officer Angus Harley. He is almost as stubborn as she is and has not patience for her meddling. But with a dangerous killer on the loose who has knowledge of the occult, will the two be able to play nice and solve this murder before something else happens?
Awesome book, my first by this author and it was such a pleasure to read. Temerity is such a self-assured and sassy young lady that I was rooting for her from the beginning!


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Coin for a Dream: Stories from My Early Years by Mae Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you’ve ever been curious to hear about life in North Korea from someone who has actually lived there, then I suggest getting this book. This is a collection of short stories surrounding the authors life as a young girl in North Korea. The stories have one thing in common, they are presented as oral stories told to a young girl by her grandparents. These types of stories always have morals and I was not disappointed to see the North Korean culture, religion, superstitions and customs that come to light throughout the stories.
They were very interesting to read, and I certainly would recommend this book to others. I found no issue in the presentation of the book, grammar or sentence syntax as can sometimes be seen in books that touch on foreign cultures which was promising. The pacing was good and steady throughout and the order of the stories was well thought out.


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