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Diary of a Fifth Grade Bully by Beth Riwa was a much deeper story than I expected it to be. I highly recommend that you read this with your child, as it does have some pretty heavy topics: bullying (intentional and unintentional), abuse, and poverty. I think Beth Riwa did an amazing job of approaching these in a respectful way, but some children may have a hard time relating or understanding.
Dewey is not what I expected at all. At first, I didn't feel bad for him and wholeheartedly agreed with the assessment that he was a bully. But then I got to know him a little better. He's one of the deepest characters I've read in a middle-grade novel. As I learned more about him, his friends, and his school, I started to understand him a lot better. He's more than what he seems at first, so you'll have to give him a chance to show you.
Diary of a Fifth Grade Bully is written in the popular style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which was the perfect way to present this story. Getting to see into Dewey's mind and hear his thoughts and feelings in his own words, was incredibly impactful.
Dewey learns a grows lot in this first book. And he doesn't seem to be afraid to look at himself and see what he's doing well and what he's doing wrong. He has some amazing friends that help him along his journey to proving he isn't a bully.
My only real complaint about the book was the cartoons in my digital copy were incredibly small and couldn't really be read easily.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Dewey is not what I expected at all. At first, I didn't feel bad for him and wholeheartedly agreed with the assessment that he was a bully. But then I got to know him a little better. He's one of the deepest characters I've read in a middle-grade novel. As I learned more about him, his friends, and his school, I started to understand him a lot better. He's more than what he seems at first, so you'll have to give him a chance to show you.
Diary of a Fifth Grade Bully is written in the popular style of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which was the perfect way to present this story. Getting to see into Dewey's mind and hear his thoughts and feelings in his own words, was incredibly impactful.
Dewey learns a grows lot in this first book. And he doesn't seem to be afraid to look at himself and see what he's doing well and what he's doing wrong. He has some amazing friends that help him along his journey to proving he isn't a bully.
My only real complaint about the book was the cartoons in my digital copy were incredibly small and couldn't really be read easily.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey was beautifully written. Cat's unexpected inheritance takes her on a journey deep into her family's past and exposes secrets hidden away for a lifetime.
It all begins with a letter. Although I wonder if anyone today would jump on a plane to Paris to claim an estate from someone they didn't know existed, it played to my imagination of long-lost heirs. Cat has inherited a lavish apartment that seems to have been untouched since 1940. Full of antiques and treasures, and covered in dust and dirt, Cat falls deeper into the mystery.
But there's always more than we first expect. Isabelle has a family - and she never told them about the apartment. No one understands why - and I didn't understand why they were so set on not claiming it once they found out about it. While I found it nice they wanted to follow Isabelle's last wishes, I don't quite understand why they didn't take the estate when Cat said she didn't want it. But I guess then we wouldn't have had a story.
Cat digs deep into history, uncovering more and more strange information on Isabelle and her past. She was a fascinating woman that lived through a lot during the war. Fleeing from the Nazi occupation, there isn't much of a paper trail to follow.
I was quite surprised when Cat found the last clue and solved the mystery. All the loose ends were tied up nicely in a way that was a little larger than life, but still very believable. It maintained the slight fairy tale atmosphere without going too far. And the bit of a love story along the way sure didn't hurt.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
It all begins with a letter. Although I wonder if anyone today would jump on a plane to Paris to claim an estate from someone they didn't know existed, it played to my imagination of long-lost heirs. Cat has inherited a lavish apartment that seems to have been untouched since 1940. Full of antiques and treasures, and covered in dust and dirt, Cat falls deeper into the mystery.
But there's always more than we first expect. Isabelle has a family - and she never told them about the apartment. No one understands why - and I didn't understand why they were so set on not claiming it once they found out about it. While I found it nice they wanted to follow Isabelle's last wishes, I don't quite understand why they didn't take the estate when Cat said she didn't want it. But I guess then we wouldn't have had a story.
Cat digs deep into history, uncovering more and more strange information on Isabelle and her past. She was a fascinating woman that lived through a lot during the war. Fleeing from the Nazi occupation, there isn't much of a paper trail to follow.
I was quite surprised when Cat found the last clue and solved the mystery. All the loose ends were tied up nicely in a way that was a little larger than life, but still very believable. It maintained the slight fairy tale atmosphere without going too far. And the bit of a love story along the way sure didn't hurt.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt was quite a ride through the lives of the rich and famous. Sky Manning and Braden Black seem to be on opposite sides of the social spectrum. But Skye's job shooting "selfies" of an influencer brings her into his world a little awkwardly. And to be honest, he seems like a total jerk at first.
Braden is super full of himself. At first, this comes off badly. But as the story continues and Skye gets more and more under his skin, you start to see a different side. Not completely different, but enough to be really intrigued by what his story is.
There is so much tension between these two! It snaps off the page. It builds and builds, and then when things finally happen - well, it doesn't go as expected. Skye and Braden are going to have a lot to work through. Both are beyond stubborn, and the constant bickering was just enough to be amusing and not annoying.
There's more to their story. There has to be - and I can't wait to see where it goes.
***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book***
Braden is super full of himself. At first, this comes off badly. But as the story continues and Skye gets more and more under his skin, you start to see a different side. Not completely different, but enough to be really intrigued by what his story is.
There is so much tension between these two! It snaps off the page. It builds and builds, and then when things finally happen - well, it doesn't go as expected. Skye and Braden are going to have a lot to work through. Both are beyond stubborn, and the constant bickering was just enough to be amusing and not annoying.
There's more to their story. There has to be - and I can't wait to see where it goes.
***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book***
Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson gave me to perfect dose of Christmas magic. When Ashley finds her Christmas plans unexpectedly canceled, she decides to her hometown of Owl Lake. She has no idea that this is actually the beginning of all her Christmas wishes coming true.
I love how Terri Wilson tied the charms into the story. Not only does Ashley work at the charms counter in a high-end jewelry store, but her love of antique and vintage charms plays well into the overall magic of the story. The charms almost become another character - or at least an extension of Ashley.
I'm not usually a big fan of second-chance romances. Someone has usually done something awful, and I don't like disliking a character. But this was different. In this case, it just wasn't the right time for them yet. Now, we just have to wonder if now is the right time, or they will miss their second chance.
I love how Terri Wilson tied the charms into the story. Not only does Ashley work at the charms counter in a high-end jewelry store, but her love of antique and vintage charms plays well into the overall magic of the story. The charms almost become another character - or at least an extension of Ashley.
I'm not usually a big fan of second-chance romances. Someone has usually done something awful, and I don't like disliking a character. But this was different. In this case, it just wasn't the right time for them yet. Now, we just have to wonder if now is the right time, or they will miss their second chance.
The House by the Lake by Ella Carey was a beautiful mix of history and contemporary. Two tales unfold, tied together by Max Albrecht, Anna's grandfather. In the present, Anna is sent to find an item her grandfather holds dear. And while she is there, she stumbles on a mystery of what happened in the past and why he walked away from it all.
In the past, we see Max's life, at first luxury, and then turning to disaster. I highly recommend reading Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey as the two stories are entwined and build on each other.
Max's history in Nazi Germany did not end well. His is a love story gone horribly wrong. One that changed so many lives and he's been hiding from ever since. But it's time to unearth the past. I really felt for Max. He was caught between two worlds and two choices, and never given the chance to decide which road to take.
Anna was a very determined character. Once she set her mind to making things "right," she was all in. She doesn't understand what she finds at first, and digs deeper, always looking for the next string to pull until she finds out how everything happened.
She has a very sweet romance. While it wasn't the primary theme in the book, it was just enough to soften the edges of the tale. It made her more real and helped me root for her on her journey.
The way the two stories, history and present, wove together is what really makes this book a gem. The narrative bounces between the past and the present. But it's done in a way that helps advance both storylines and each adds an extra level to the other. I can't wait to read more by Ella Carey - she certainly has a way to pull me into the story.
***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book***
In the past, we see Max's life, at first luxury, and then turning to disaster. I highly recommend reading Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey as the two stories are entwined and build on each other.
Max's history in Nazi Germany did not end well. His is a love story gone horribly wrong. One that changed so many lives and he's been hiding from ever since. But it's time to unearth the past. I really felt for Max. He was caught between two worlds and two choices, and never given the chance to decide which road to take.
Anna was a very determined character. Once she set her mind to making things "right," she was all in. She doesn't understand what she finds at first, and digs deeper, always looking for the next string to pull until she finds out how everything happened.
She has a very sweet romance. While it wasn't the primary theme in the book, it was just enough to soften the edges of the tale. It made her more real and helped me root for her on her journey.
The way the two stories, history and present, wove together is what really makes this book a gem. The narrative bounces between the past and the present. But it's done in a way that helps advance both storylines and each adds an extra level to the other. I can't wait to read more by Ella Carey - she certainly has a way to pull me into the story.
***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book***
Bloody Hell got off to a great start. I understood Mercy's struggle and her turning into a very special kind of vampire. Where I had a lot of problems was the sense of time. The book starts in the 1890's, but you never would have guessed it if the date wasn't under the chapter number. The language and actions spoke of a time 100 years later.
The story drags for a while as Mercy grows older and more powerful. Ramon was an interesting diversion, but it lasted far too long. It was just page after page of how horrible they could both be. This middle section was just a lot of gore. It wasn't graphic or overly descriptive, but it was death after death, page after page. It didn't seem to take the characters anywhere in their development. It did pull the story slightly forward, as all the killings brought the attention of vampire hunters, but I think it could have happened in a much less draw out way.
There were also several inconsistencies in the storyline, where later parts of the book seemed to forget things that had happened earlier or directly contradict them - especially when it came to Mercy's abilities and relationships with her sire, Nico, and Ramon.
There were some really great one line quotes in the story that I really got a kick out of and showed the promise of what the story could have been. I would have liked to see more about the voodoo and the people from Nico's past. It was glossed over and I think the lack of details there made the story a little confusing when the author was trying to pull all the strings back together. To be honest, I'm still not sure what happened at the end even though I read the last 25 pages or so several times.
The story drags for a while as Mercy grows older and more powerful. Ramon was an interesting diversion, but it lasted far too long. It was just page after page of how horrible they could both be. This middle section was just a lot of gore. It wasn't graphic or overly descriptive, but it was death after death, page after page. It didn't seem to take the characters anywhere in their development. It did pull the story slightly forward, as all the killings brought the attention of vampire hunters, but I think it could have happened in a much less draw out way.
There were also several inconsistencies in the storyline, where later parts of the book seemed to forget things that had happened earlier or directly contradict them - especially when it came to Mercy's abilities and relationships with her sire, Nico, and Ramon.
There were some really great one line quotes in the story that I really got a kick out of and showed the promise of what the story could have been. I would have liked to see more about the voodoo and the people from Nico's past. It was glossed over and I think the lack of details there made the story a little confusing when the author was trying to pull all the strings back together. To be honest, I'm still not sure what happened at the end even though I read the last 25 pages or so several times.
My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts is an incredible story - not just a romance (although there is plenty of that), but also a spy adventure. Lady Ravenna Walsingham is more than what she seems at first. She's an accomplished spy in His Majesty's service.
She's sent to spy on a highland laird that refuses to send his son to be educated by the English. This is horribly suspicious, and Ravenna is perfect to infiltrate his home in disguise as an English governess.
Laird Ruairi Sutherland isn't out to harm the crown. He just wants his son raised in his own way and not sent away from him for the English to raise. Ruairi is a wonderful father, and I fell in love with him because of the care he took for his son.
But we must have some conflict, and this is where things maybe fell a bit flat. I think it was too obvious from the beginning to Ravenna that Ruairi wasn't up to any shenanigans, but it took her a loooong time to come to that conclusion. The court intrigue just didn't seem to fit properly.
The romance was great. These two make an amazing couple. Ravenna's strength and independence pair well with Ruairi's stubbornness and family devotion.
There are several side characters that stole the show at times - one of which is a wolf-dog. But the people of the clan are enjoyable and you will grow attached.
She's sent to spy on a highland laird that refuses to send his son to be educated by the English. This is horribly suspicious, and Ravenna is perfect to infiltrate his home in disguise as an English governess.
Laird Ruairi Sutherland isn't out to harm the crown. He just wants his son raised in his own way and not sent away from him for the English to raise. Ruairi is a wonderful father, and I fell in love with him because of the care he took for his son.
But we must have some conflict, and this is where things maybe fell a bit flat. I think it was too obvious from the beginning to Ravenna that Ruairi wasn't up to any shenanigans, but it took her a loooong time to come to that conclusion. The court intrigue just didn't seem to fit properly.
The romance was great. These two make an amazing couple. Ravenna's strength and independence pair well with Ruairi's stubbornness and family devotion.
There are several side characters that stole the show at times - one of which is a wolf-dog. But the people of the clan are enjoyable and you will grow attached.
Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn was a very holiday romance. If you love Christmas, then you'll get plenty of it here. It screams holiday madness from every page.
Sophie Davis LOVES Christmas. And this year, she's determined to make the life of Cole Aaron fuller. She knows things about him that no one else does. Because she read his journal. She had good intentions, but it still bothered me the entire book. Why didn't she check out the rest of the box it was in before she read all of it?
Cole is understandably upset when he finds out Sophie read his journal. And it was a journal of some pretty dark moments and thoughts in his life. But he's way too much of a jerk about it too. In fact, he's kind of a jerk about Christmas in general. Taking part in town events as his civic duty instead of because he wants to.
Sophie and Cole circle each other throughout the entire book. It's very on-again, off-again - mostly on Cole's side. He ran hot and cold, and it switched within a second. Sophie is a saint to have not given up on him. But they make a wonderful couple. They balance each other out.
The highlight of the book for me was Sophie's quilting. I've always admired the creativity and craft that goes into making a quilt. And Sophie does such wonderful things with hers. Her dedication to making others' lives better was amazing. It was really my favorite part of the book.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Sophie Davis LOVES Christmas. And this year, she's determined to make the life of Cole Aaron fuller. She knows things about him that no one else does. Because she read his journal. She had good intentions, but it still bothered me the entire book. Why didn't she check out the rest of the box it was in before she read all of it?
Cole is understandably upset when he finds out Sophie read his journal. And it was a journal of some pretty dark moments and thoughts in his life. But he's way too much of a jerk about it too. In fact, he's kind of a jerk about Christmas in general. Taking part in town events as his civic duty instead of because he wants to.
Sophie and Cole circle each other throughout the entire book. It's very on-again, off-again - mostly on Cole's side. He ran hot and cold, and it switched within a second. Sophie is a saint to have not given up on him. But they make a wonderful couple. They balance each other out.
The highlight of the book for me was Sophie's quilting. I've always admired the creativity and craft that goes into making a quilt. And Sophie does such wonderful things with hers. Her dedication to making others' lives better was amazing. It was really my favorite part of the book.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Making Christmas Magic by Rachel Carrington was an amazing story. I love it when the primary source of conflict isn't necessarily a person (although there is a major jerk in the story that certainly doesn't help). In this case, the main conflict is a house about to enter foreclosure. And this isn't just any house. It's an orphanage that is barely hanging on.
When Nick (the newly inherited owner) tells Ainsley the situation, she's devastated. But Nick is going to try and save the day. Even if his lawyer thinks it's a horrible idea.
Nick won me over with a snowball fight. When you get there you'll know exactly what I mean. It was the moment I really started thinking of him as the hero of the story. And I think Ainsley might have seen a little bit of that as well.
But something needs to be done - and quickly - before the bank takes over the house and Ainsley and her crew of kids are left looking for a new place to live. And at Christmas, too.
The sweet romance between Nick and Ainsley was a lot of fun. This was a wonderful, light-hearted Christmas romance that will set you up nicely in the holiday spirit.
When Nick (the newly inherited owner) tells Ainsley the situation, she's devastated. But Nick is going to try and save the day. Even if his lawyer thinks it's a horrible idea.
Nick won me over with a snowball fight. When you get there you'll know exactly what I mean. It was the moment I really started thinking of him as the hero of the story. And I think Ainsley might have seen a little bit of that as well.
But something needs to be done - and quickly - before the bank takes over the house and Ainsley and her crew of kids are left looking for a new place to live. And at Christmas, too.
The sweet romance between Nick and Ainsley was a lot of fun. This was a wonderful, light-hearted Christmas romance that will set you up nicely in the holiday spirit.
When You Were Mine by Alessa Martel is a sweet second-chance romance between two high school sweethearts. Jenny and Michael were always the perfect couple. The one everyone expected to marry and have kids. Neither one saw the mix-up that would tear them apart.
Jenny and Michael are forced to face each other when she returns home from college for the summer. The whole town is abuzz with the news that Michael is engaged. And everyone is watching to see how Jenny will react.
I have to admire Jenny's determination to go about her life and ignore all the watchers. She wants to do her job and get back to school. But Michael and his life seem to be everywhere she turns.
As Jenny realizes how much she missed him, she finds out his fiance is an amazing person. And she actually enjoys being her friend. So what is she going to do?
When You Were Mine really felt like a real story to me. Real teenage emotions and decisions that aren't always correct. Wondering if that second-chance is worth grabbing or better passing it up. Jenny and Michael are both characters I only wanted to see happy in the end.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Jenny and Michael are forced to face each other when she returns home from college for the summer. The whole town is abuzz with the news that Michael is engaged. And everyone is watching to see how Jenny will react.
I have to admire Jenny's determination to go about her life and ignore all the watchers. She wants to do her job and get back to school. But Michael and his life seem to be everywhere she turns.
As Jenny realizes how much she missed him, she finds out his fiance is an amazing person. And she actually enjoys being her friend. So what is she going to do?
When You Were Mine really felt like a real story to me. Real teenage emotions and decisions that aren't always correct. Wondering if that second-chance is worth grabbing or better passing it up. Jenny and Michael are both characters I only wanted to see happy in the end.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**