Quick Read

Review of Owl Shook Up by Leanne Leeds

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Synopsis:
When Aunt Gwennie’s famous snickerdoodles go missing before the annual cookie competition, Astra and her sisters prepare for a bitter battle over the sweet treats. But the trouble turns deadly when Aunt Gwennie’s rival, Agatha Blackwell, is found dead with a snickerdoodle stuffed in her mouth.

With Archie’s help, Astra dives into the cutthroat competition of Forkbridge’s baking scene. Secrets are simmering about Agatha’s controversial new recipe, stolen ingredients, and suspected poisonings. As she sifts through motives and investigates shifty behavior behind the scenes, Astra discovers that she may be in over her head.

Can Astra clear Aunt Gwennie’s name and crack the case before the cookie crumbles? Or will the sisters watch Aunt Gwennie’s cookie legacy come crashing down like an underbaked soufflé?

Find out in this delectable tale filled with baked goods, betrayal, and bewitching hijinks galore.

No gore, intimate scenes, or swearing – only a captivating story suitable for adults.

Review:
As always, a decent story, quick read cozy mystery by Leanne Leeds. There were a few parts that I personally felt were a bit jumpy. Clearly a big point of this novel was to show that Astra wasn’t prioritizing the correct things, needs to learn to organize herself better, but it seemed daft that she never really investigated anything regarding the sudden death. She sort of visited the scene and checked her own house, but the whodunit being found out (and her presence when it did) was entirely coincidental. There were many angles and loose ends left out about Carla, Iva, and Clarkson. I really did love the introduction of another magic-tech gadget from her magical military days. I do hope that such things will continue to make appearances. All in all, a good quick read, and I’d recommend to anyone who likes modern fantasy cozy mystiers.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of Hate Mail by Donna Marchetti

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Synopsis:
Naomi and Luca have been pen-pals since fifth-grade. Well, more like bitter rivals caught in an epic battle of insults and verbal jousting…

But what starts as a hilarious chain of hate filled letters, slowly develops into a friendship spanning coasts and years. That is until one day, years later, when the letters suddenly stop.

It’s been two years since Naomi last heard from Luca. Two years since the letter that changed everything.

But when a new envelope turns up out of the blue at her desk at the local news station, Naomi is determined not to let Luca have the final word.

Review:
This book was great. It was easy to fall into, a quick read, and one that was hard to put down. I loved the interspersed backstory bits about Luca, though it was a bit one sided as it was predominately from the perspective of Naomi. The main big “mix up” I saw a mile away and while I didn’t like the huge reaction it caused, I was completely smitten with how everything tied up in the end. There were some great quirky side characters, some awesome adventures, and a great little peek of spice. I also quite loved how one small connection kept over your life since you were young can make all the difference to what you turn out interested in/doing/being/who you are. If you like enemies to lovers, wordplay, and good banter, this is the summer beach read for you.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️

Review of Times Like These: A Rock Star Romance by Julia Wolf

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Times Like These: A Rock Star Romance (Blue is the Color Book 1) by [Julia Wolf]

Synopsis:
It all started with a concert I never wanted to attend…

Nick Fletcher is the kind of arrogant, beautiful, bad boy who draws me in like a moth to a flame. He’s also a world-famous rock star who should be untouchable to a struggling college student like me.

One impulsive decision from me, a vicious response from Nick, and we’re thrust into each other’s worlds, whether we like it or not. And he really doesn’t like it.

To him, I’m an intruder working on his summer tour. One with a sassy mouth I can’t keep shut, especially when he leans in hard to the whole sexy, grumpy rocker thing.

There’s something undeniable simmering between us, and it’s not hate. But beneath Nick’s arrogance is a broken man and my days of fixing men are behind me.

No matter what, I’m walking away when this tour is over.

Even if the heat we ignite burns hotter than the summer sun.

Review:
Found this book from booktok. A quick fast read. The characters are quirky, flawed, and stay with you. Great book, good flow. A lot of unseen twists and turns and the perfect ending. A great quick enemies to lovers romance, and the spice was great and well written.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of Risky Seeds, Risky Hearts by Cindy A. Christiansen

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By Cindy A. Christiansen

Star Rating: 

Genre: Clean Romance
Number of Pages: 81

Date Started:December 3, 2015
Date Finished: December 4, 2015

Synopsis:(From Amazon)81YZUnjbf4L
Laid-back Sadie Jean Dixon had a calm summer planned working for the Utah Forest Service, but a deliberately set fire sends her racing on horseback up the mountainside with her Border Collie, Gypsy, in tow and flames on their tail.

Practical Colton Masterson has given up the ranch lifestyle for a college degree in accounting. When his little brother breaks his arm and can’t help run the ranch, Colton returns home to lend a hand. He takes on a part-time job at Samson Seed Company handling their taxes but soon learns the books aren’t in order.

As Colton and Sadie work together to find out the real outlaws, will they realize you have to lose a fly to catch a trout?

Review:
Short, sweet, and to the point.  The characters were excellent, the story made sense and played on general issues in a small town such as wanting to trust those you work with.  There weren’t many twists or turns, but it was a great, sweet, quick read that still had left you wondering at the end… wondering who that musician in the picture with Sadie was.  I absolutely loved the portrayal of Gyspy, the border collie.  I also adored Dusty, and the descriptions of how Sadie looks over both her horse and her dog throughout.  A great light, sweet clean romance that will entertain you for an hour!

Authchristiansenor Bio: (from Amazon)
Bestselling author, Cindy A Christiansen, has combined her love of dogs with her joy of writing to create an award winning combination. Her novels always include canine characters both in the pages and on the cover, an extension of the credit she gives to her extraordinary rescue dogs for their part in helping her overcome numerous challenges. In a reciprocal gesture for their love and devotion, a portion of the proceeds from her books are donated to assist abandoned and abused dogs.

She lives in Utah with her loving husband, two creative children with autism, and a pack of rambunctious dogs.

Fly into a good book!

Here’s what her books give you:
* A clean read with no bedroom scenes or offensive language.
* A tantalizing, fast-paced plot.
* A story without a lot of boring description.
* Down-to-earth heroes and heroines with everyday jobs.
* A rollercoaster ride of emotions you face right along with the characters.
* A special dog to steal your heart.
* A few added facts, a good message, and that important happily-ever-after ending.

Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Thank you!