Book Review

Book Review of Covet Thy Neighbor by Denise Carbo

My Review

Divorce is hard. Divorce with kids is harder.

Single mom, Olivia Banner, is trying to make ends meet by taking on more hours at her job, going back to school, and taking care of her twin boys. But when a mysterious new neighbor moves in next door, she can’t help but be intrigued.

Covet Thy Neighbor takes on a lot of the struggles you will find in divorce, such as sharing the responsibilities of kids, moving on and finding love, and even doubting your self-worth. The author did a great job at showing the realities and difficulties of two households rather than one, and keeping a strong family unit despite the divorce.

My rating: 4 stars

February 26, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of The Faceless Mage by Kenley Davidson

My Review

He is neither her friend, nor her enemy. But just one word from his master will give him no choice but to take her life.

The Faceless Mage is everything you want in a book. Magic. Romance. Secrets. Danger. Although the hero does little else besides act as her guard, there is so much depth to him. His raw emotions explode on every page, and you can feel his pain and hopeless existence.

You can’t help but to love Leisa. She is strong, skilled, and most of all brave. Her courage is admirable as she risks her life for the safety of her kingdom. In a world filled with uncertainty and suspicion, she puts her trust in the one person who is the most dangerous of them all.

I absolutely loved this book. The characters and story kept me hooked, and there was little else I wanted to do but turn page after page to find out what happened next. I’m looking forward to continuing this series with book 2!

My rating: 5 stars

February 25, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Round of Applause by Marilyn Barr

My Review

I did not see that coming.

Anyone who has read Round of Applause by Marilyn Barr will know what I’m talking about. The author did a great job at keeping me guessing throughout the entire book, and when the twist popped up in the story, boy was I surprised! The dynamic between the heroes and heroine made sense, and I appreciated how carefully the author crafted the story.

I love how strong Aurora was as a character. She wanted to travel the world to find herself, and she found more than she thought possible in a little town called Strawberry. I loved watching her own up to her mistakes and her past and become stronger because of them.

One of my favorite characters in the story despite how little screen time he had? Ryan. What can I say? I love vampires! I loved his snarky attitude in both Bear with Me and Round of Applause, and I hope I get to see more of it in future books in the series. Other than him, Nate quickly found a place in my heart. He was so fun and hilarious! I enjoyed his sense of humor and the silly relationship he had with Gran.

The characters were great, the story awesome, and the world building fascinating. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

My rating: 5 stars

February 21, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Marrying Miss Marshal by Lacy Williams

My Review

Lacy Williams has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I’ve read a few of her contemporary books, and I was excited to start her historical series. Marrying Miss Marshal was a sweet romance, a tale of two very different people connected by the same group of bad guys. I loved witnessing the way they came together and watching as the slow-burn romance unfolded.

One thing that bothered me was the lack of communication where upholding the law was concerned. For example, Chas overheard a very important conversation and could have prevented something catastrophic from happening, but…he didn’t. The bad guys were clear who they were from the beginning, so that wasn’t much of a surprise.

However, I did enjoy the book overall, and it was fun to see Lacy Williams writing in another genre than of what I’ve read so far. I would be interested to see how the rest of the books tie in with the exciting world the author has created.

My rating: 4 stars

February 16, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Return of the Raven by Judith Sterling

My Review

Can love break her curse? Will she find happiness in the future?

Judith Sterling weaves an intricate tale as she ties together the entire series in this last book, Return of the Raven. Each book in the series has led up to an incredible tale of love and family. You can’t help but to root for Margaret and Griffin as the story progresses.

There are many twists and turns in the story, with awesome reveals that are only hinted at in the other books. You will laugh and cheer and cry as you read. Definitely a satisfying ending to a series well-done!

My rating: 5 stars

February 12, 2021February 12, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Spires by Briar Lee Mitchell

When a centuries-old vampire is finally released from his prison beneath a cathedral, will he seek revenge on the other vampires who put him there? Or will his release lead to his own destruction?

This book had a bit of everything. Horror. Mystery. Romance. From the very first page, I was sucked into the world the author created. I was intrigued by the idea of a vampire being freed after hundreds of years of entrapment and what might happen once released, and the author didn’t disappoint.

Spires was very well written. The vampires were terrifying, god-like creatures, the stuff of nightmares. And the ending was satisfying. If you like dark fantasy/horror with a bit of paranormal romance, then this book would be a good fit for you.

My rating: 4 stars

February 9, 2021February 8, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Shadow of the Swan by Judith Sterling

My Review

He wants a wife. She wants protection. When the two feel a pull toward the other, will only a spiritual union be possible?

This tale of letting go of past pain and hurt and finding love is so sweet. Constance is a very hesitant and wary bride while Robert is kind and patient. Judith Sterling has a knack for creating deep and interesting characters, and you can’t help but love them as they go on their own journeys to become their best self.

Shadow of the Swan is a great addition to The Novels of Ravenwood, and I’m really looking forward to reading the next installment in the series.

My rating: 5 stars

February 5, 2021February 3, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Soul of the Wolf by Judith Sterling

My Review

This book surprised me. After reading the first book in the series, I expected Soul of the Wolf to be just as serious and intense as Wulfstan’s character, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be quite the opposite. Jocelyn and Wulfstan were such a funny, well-suited pair. They had me laughing throughout the entire book. Especially where all of Jocelyn’s antics were concerned when trying to gain the attention of her new husband.

One of my favorite parts of this book was Jocelyn. She was fiery and headstrong, not afraid to go after what she wanted. She drove Wulfstan crazy in all the right ways. I seriously loved this book, and I’m looking forward to finding out what the next book in the series has in store.

My rating: 5 stars

February 4, 2021February 2, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of Tangled Souls by Denise D. Young

My Review

There’s a reason for everything under the sun and moon. In a witch’s life, there are no coincidences.

Tangled Souls is a great addition to the Tangled Magic series. We get different characters, but the same world filled with danger, secrets, and magic. Denise D. Young excels in writing vivid, descriptive imagery that leaves the reader feeling like they’re walking through the book themselves, hearing, tasting, seeing, and touching as if they were a character in the story.

I found myself really liking Evan and Bailee, as they both had great talents and personalities to bring to the coven table. Although we only get a glimpse into Nick and Evan’s brotherly relationship, I loved the dynamic between them.

The author leaves off in an interesting place, making the reader wonder what will happen in the next book. If you like witches, shifters, fae, and magic, Tangled Souls is a great read for you.

My rating: 4.5 stars

February 2, 2021February 2, 2021 by Sydney Winward

Book Review of The Vampire with a Blanket of Stars by Susan Hanniford Crowley

My Review

Despite this book being in the paranormal genre, it was very realistic to me. The way certain people acted in certain situations made sense, and the build up to the ending was done well. The author did a great job at pulling the reader inside the book with an interesting tale and great characters.

Although this is the first book I have read in this series, I was able to understand what was going on and how the other characters fit into the story. If you like historical mixed with modern traditional vampires, then you would love this book.

My rating: 4 stars

January 27, 2021 by Sydney Winward