Wow! Just wow! What a debut for an author! Talk about a grace point. As a reader, I can tell there was so much love and wisdom poured into this story. I’ve lost some sleep and cried tears. I’ve laughed and awwwwed with the best of them. Take me back to Heritage!

Hannah is trying to be a realtor but keeps wanting to prevent her sellers from selling to a certain town developer. She’s obsessed with making up for her mother’s past and abandonment. Her best friend Luke is trying to make the small town of Heritage his home but as a foster child, he still feels he’s never belonged even after many years. That kiss from senior year in the tree house didn’t end up bringing happily ever after but the attraction is still there. 

Back fresh from Paris after a year, Janie is convinced she’s still trusting in God’s plan. All those plans made with Hannah’s brother, Thomas, got shot down when he dumped her with no real explanation. Now she’s back and Thomas is engaged! What’s a girl to do except take a temporary baking job and end up working with Thomas in the diner for a few months?

A small town has its quirks and two couples struggling to keep their secrets from one another. A romantic comedy that is both satisfying and heartfelt while geniusly weaving in God’s power to redeem and heal His children. Such a great message and such a fun read any time of year! 

Highly recommended! 

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Crown of Dragons: Bleeding Realms: 
Dragon Blessed Book One
by Nina Walker
Rating: 5/5

Wow! I can’t even believe that I finished the first book in this series so fast! I definitely lost some sleep trying to speed-read to find out what happens next. I was disappointed when I realized that I had come to the end of book one and would have to wait a few months till the next book. (Sigh)

The story is told from two POVs and if that bothers you, then this book is probably not for you. However, there is a purpose for these two POVs since there are two realms to explore. Nina Walker gives the reader a glimpse inside both the magical and non-magical realms by telling the story from Hazel’s (non-magical realm) and Khali’s (magical realm) POVs. 

Hazel has lived her life blending into the background as much as possible but entering college has changed her anonymity. She also has quite the secret. She sees dead people. Her brief encounter with bad boy Dean only heightens her curiosity on what secrets he’s hiding. Getting a job as psychic medium can only help her situation, right? She’s tried her whole life to control her ability but has had no luck. What is she? Why is this happening to her? When multiple girls go missing in the small college town, Hazel sees their ghosts and doesn’t know how to help them. What can she do? Will Dean be able to help her?

Khali is a princess because she was born with two different colored eyes which indicated she had all four elemental powers. She is destined to be the next queen to one of the four Dragon princes. She is also Dragon blessed – she can shift into a dragon. She is powerfully powerless to control her own destiny – or is she? Tragedy strikes and forces Khali to make a decision about her future. Does she have what it takes to forge her own path?

Super interesting concept and definitely need to read the next book now! I’ll just be here waiting impatiently. Highly recommend!

My thanks to the author for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Midnight: A Cinderella Retelling
by Melanie Gilbert
Book 1 of the Fae Brothers’ Ever Afters series
Rating: 4/5

First, I love the cover. It’s gorgeous, beautiful and eye-catching.
Second, I love a good retelling. Who doesn’t love a Cinderella story?*
Third, I love when genres mix. It just adds another layer to the story and keeps you on your toes.

*Note: as much as I love a Cinderella retelling, the story didn’t need it and I feel like the Cinderella angle takes away from this intriguing story. As a reader, I kept trying to figure out how this story was similar to Cinderella, which was distracting. Just my two cents.

Nova’s father blames her for the tragic deaths of her mother and younger sister. He moves them to a new city – a new home to forget the past. However, their nextdoor neighbors (is it next-wall if it’s a shared duplex?), Stella and her older twin brothers, seem to want to make life more miserable for Nova and her secrets.

Kent has a Destiny – a soulmate of his own kind of fae. He was marked at birth and must wait till he finds her. He can’t date anyone else, but his resolve starts to dissolve when Nova comes crashing into his life. He can’t stop thinking about her but his attention should be on protecting his family from a coven of power-hungry witches.

Kent’s family is a war with the witches and it seems that Nova has stepped right in the middle of it all. What happens when secrets are revealed?

Again, I loved the story. Unique and interesting. Great characters dealing with real emotions – even if they are in high school. This was a slower read for me but I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. Clever and mysterious adventure read plus romance? Yes, please.

Highly recommend!

My thanks to the author for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.