Imagine surviving the foster system only to find yourself in an academy with fae.A pair of Gemini twins prove to be a powerful addition to the Zodiac Academy. A ruthlesss world where Air, Fire, Earth, and Water are harnessed with power, only this pair has the rare ability to harness them all. There is a battle of power, bullies, and love interests.This was a great story but I found the forced interactions and repeated brutality are over the top. It took away from the plot. Also, the characters didn’t grow or develop much, probably to lure the reader to the next volume.I think the series has potential but it’s not for me. I liked it somewhat but I didn’t love it. 3/5⭐️

The Spreadsheet Situation by Dawn BanksThis was a fun whimsical romance. I really enjoyed it.The characters were fun and well developed. What is better than a story with a librarian and library?Evie enjoys life as a librarian. She has a problem saying “no”. Her anxiety has become an issue but she’s managed it, until she joins a new committee. She is the star of the show organizing the data – spreadsheets are a hidden talent.Her anxiety ramps up, there’s extra work, an obnoxious English teacher, a new crush, and a tragedy in the library.Andrew, a history professor, invites Evie to his committee with a secret of his own, she gets an opportunity in a big city, and things are heating up. Andrew is cute, he likes books, and he can cook. She isn’t sure she can trust him with more than friendship.Evie was a fun, intelligent protagonist. I enjoyed the characters. The story was well done with the dynamic relationship of friends to lovers.It was nice to just dive into the story – so smooth, relatable, and charming! 4/5⭐

Booked For the Holidays by Liz Maverick

Deadly Christmas Trap by Lynette Eason

Murder at the Christmas Emporium by Andreina Cordani

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

The Spreadsheet Situation by Dawn Banks

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Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Prowl by Colleen Coble (Audiobook)The Sanctuary is a special place for the Lawson family and the animals they care for.When a worker is found dead in the tiger enclosure, their world is upended. Evidence indicates that she was hit with a tranquilizer and left in the precarious situation with the tiger.Blake Lawson, a co-owner, is immediately under suspicion.While he is trying to keep the business side afloat and clear his name, a soil test turns up traces of rare earth on the property.Someone is trying to chase them off the property and that may be the reason, or it could be tied to the resident veterinarian, Paradise Alden.Paradise recently found out she has a brother and she is using a DNA test to try and find him. Someone is thwarting her efforts and the results disappear before she can read them. That someone doesn’t want her to find him and danger starts surfacing in all directions.Blake has always loved Paradise and wants to start their life together but there are so many roadblocks at every turn,This is a gripping mystery full of suspense, friendship, and love.

The Shippers by Katherine Center

The Charmed Library by Jennifer MoormanThis enchanting story takes you to a realm where words are living and magic is sewn into the fabric of the stories, transforming lives.Stella is broken-hearted and surrounded by words, some that only she can see.She’s kept her gift under wraps and her secret words recorded in her journal. Lots of unfinished stories, thoughts, and poems collected on the pages gave her hope.One day she tossed a journal full of thoughts of her ex into the furnace at work- the library. She burned a book and her life changed. Then one day she encountered strangers in the library and secrets began to unfold.She discovers a wonderous ability to bring fictional characters to life, right off the pages of the books.This story is phenomenal – a journey of self-discovery, magic, wonder, and best of all – Love! Who wouldn’t love the chance to meet their favorite characters!I loved everything about this book and wanted more!The audiobook was excellent! The characters came alive and the story was so wonderfully performed.5/5⭐I would like to Thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of the audiobook of this title. I was provided with a complimentary copy of this title and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Lady on Esplanade by Karen WhiteKaren White is one of my favorite authors and I have waited anxiously for this book. It did not disappoint!Secrets and the past show up with trouble for Nola in her new home in New Orleans.This is the 3rd in the Royal Street series. This one is full of suspense and mystery as Nola navigates her new life and found family. Beau and Nola team up to find out why his mother is still hanging around and nothing about the Big Easy is easy at all.Nola targets a shotgun house on Esplanade as her first project for renovation, with it comes a lot of mystery complete with murder.Cooper, Nola’s first heartbreak, shows up and has his own entourage of secrets compounded with danger and mayhem.Beau’s mother is still leaving watery footprints with unfinished business and signs of ghostly danger ahead.This was so good, worth the wait! I savored it, and loved every chapter. Beau and Nola are some of my favorite book characters! 5/5⭐I would like to Thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this title. I was given a complimentary copy and the opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Wild Card by Carolyn Brown

Snowed in at the Wildest Dreams Bookshop by Gracie Page

The Wildest Dreams Bookshop by Gracie PageThis was a fun Rom-Com! The characters were interesting and quirky.Anna’s school term ended with questionable marks on her exams. She is sure she flunked. Her plans are skewed and her aunt offers her a position at her bookshop by the sea.After being dumped. She takes on the opportunity. Immediately a good-looking surfer becomes a distraction when he crosses her path.The unlikely pair team up to save the bookshop’s end of summer party. This is a delightful tome of hope and full of romance. It will definitely appeal to book lovers who love stories about books and bookshops. The characters are fun and fresh.The narration was done well. The characters were represented well. They were given a light and individual voices. 5/5⭐I would like to Thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of the audiobook of this title.

The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos

The Widow by John Grisham

The Hitchhikers by Chevy StevensAn RV road trip on the remote Canadian highways provides a chance for healing after a loss for Alice and Tom. They planned the trip carefully.After offering two young hitchhikers a ride, everything changes. The two are not what they seem.Alice and Tom become trapped in the carnage as the hitchhikers leave a trail of destruction and death. A deadly game of secrets and evil. Alice is a resilient character and will have you breathless in her pursuit of survival.Full of suspense this story will keep you on the edge of your seat and break your heart at the same time.Chevy Stevens has a gift! 4/5⭐I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this title.

The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin

A phenomenal love story in the midst of science and history. I loved that this story tore through the human heart with resilience and devotion.

This book is a reminder that evil sometimes rules and people are resilient, the heart is stronger than the mind, and love is a survival tool.

A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci

You Shouldn’t Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall

Hawt Flash by Blair Bryan

Nash Falls by David Baldacci

The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

The Sands of the Sea Blue Beach by Rachel Hauck

Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Melody Carlson

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts

Prowl by Colleen CobleThe Sanctuary is a special place for the Lawson family and the animals they care for.

On Moonberry Lake by Holly VarniMoonberry Lake holds mystery and memories for Cora Mathews. She has always wondered why her mother stopped taking her to visit her grandparents.After her mother dies, and she breaks off her engagement two weeks before her wedding, Cora inherits the lodge that her grandparents owned. There is one condition, she has to stay for a while. The beautiful landscape with the lake as a backdrop seems the perfect opportunity to relax and make plans.The dilapidated building she is left to live in offers enough chaos to rival her life.There is a calamity of characters including an angry neighbor, an ornery handy woman, and an elderly woman that talks to the “residents” in the cemetery.Cora isn’t sure she can stick it out but if she does, she may find the kind of love she’s never had and answers for her mother’s behavior.This was a great story of friendships, romance, found family and a few miracles. I loved it! It made me want to visit Moonberry lake. 5/5⭐

Big Little Spells by Hazel BeckIn this sequel, Rebekah Wilde returns to St. Cyprian. At 18, she was banished and stripped of her magic by the Joywood Coven.Ten years have passed and as Rebekah is summoned home, she reunites with her sister and her friends.The implications with her return are darker and bring more danger than they imagined.The Joywood coven is determined to show that the Wilde sisters and their friends are a danger to witchkind. If the friends can’t show up and show themselves worthy, they face a death sentence.Rebekah looks to Nicholas Frost for help. He’s a notorious immortal and they have a secret history.Nicholas is arrogant and unreadable, it’s impossible to tell if he feels anything for Rebekah- or witchkind.I absolutely loved this! Magic, a found family and love! 4/5⭐

She Didn’t See It Coming by Shari LapenaA luxury condo is the center of an investigation when a beloved wife and mother disappears. Can they find her before it’s too late?Bryden and Sam have everything, a nice home, a beautiful child, thriving careers with wonderful friends.Bryden was working from home and when she missed the pickup for her daughter, Sam knew something wasn’t right.It appears that she just walked out, left her keys, purse, laptop, and car. Appearances are sometimes deceptive.There are secrets everywhere and it’s hard to know who did what. This one kept me on my toes guessing what was next.Riveting page turner! Loved it! 5/5⭐

Wayard Girls by Susan WiggsMarin is sent to a girls’ reform house at age fifteen, out of no fault of her own. There she bands together with five other girls. All are from different backgrounds. The girls find themselves bonded together in a mode of survival.Misguided nuns torture the girls for being there. Some of the girls are victims to a predator and some are just tortured.This is a haunting tale of hope, courage, and solidarity.Amazing writing takes you right into the story, struggling with the girls while they experience the good, the bad, and the ugly of adolescence in what feels like a prison.

Eddie Winston is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin

With a Vengeance by Riley SagerA revenge plot is laid out on a train. There are no stops.In 1942, six people were identified as playing roles in destroying Anna Matheson’s family.Twelve years later she’s out for revenge.Under false circumstances, she’s lured them all aboard a luxury train, travelling from Philadelphia to Chicago.Anna has a goal to confront them all and get confessions. Justice will be served.Anna’s plans are derailed when one passenger is murdered. As the train plows through the night, secrets are revealed, the plot twists and another body is found.She is forced to save the people she hates the most. In order to destroy her enemies while putting her own life at risk.This was a page turner! I really enjoyed it but it had a different style/tone than the other Riley Sager books that I have previously read. I am a huge-fan, this wasn’t my favorite but it was good. 3.5/5⭐

Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

Still Me by Jojo Moyes

Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb

Ordinary Grace by William Kent KrugerIn 1961, Frank was challenged by death several times in New Brenan, Minnesota. Accident, nature, suicide, and murder all played deadly roles in the little town during a grim summer.The season begins with an ordinary teen facing summer. Then tragedy strikes his family – his Methodist Minister father, his artistic mother, a sister bound for Julliard, and a wise kid brother.His teenage world is crushed, forcing him to a very adult world full of lies, secrets, adultery, and betrayal.The story is told from Frank’s recollection 40 years later. Enduring tragedy and witnessing the Grace of God. 4/5⭐

Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck