*Fast Forward by Kat Mizera


Fast Forward by Kat Mizera
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

One night can change everything.

Musician Ford Malone left Texas, without so much as a backward glance—lured by the bright lights of L.A. and the all-consuming world of rock and roll. It’s taken a while, but his star is finally starting to shine. Ready to take the world by storm with his new band, Nobody’s Fool, nothing will stand in his way. Until he sees her again… the girl he left behind.

Since the death of her parents, Sydney Aiken has had no time for romance. Her entire life now revolves around being a full-time mom to her three much-younger siblings. And even if she were interested, the last person on earth she’d get involved with would be the jerk who broke her heart and walked away seven years ago.

A chance encounter brings them face to face and as the past and present collide, Sydney is caught between protecting her family and following her heart. Seven years is a long time, and Ford has no idea he’s about to untangle a web of ugly secrets. But the only woman he’s ever loved is about to slip through his fingers…for the second time. Will he realize that only she can play the melody of his heart?

Fast Forward is a heartbreaking and beautiful second chance story about Ford and Sydney. I enjoyed reading their story and thought they were perfect for each other. However, heartache and pain from the past could ruin their future hopefully, they won’t let that happen.

Ford is an up-and-coming rock star with the group Nobody’s Fool. Sydney and Ford fell in love when they were teenagers, but misunderstandings tore them apart. Now, seven years later, they meet again.

Sydney is afraid to trust Ford again and she finds it impossible to let go of the past. I understood Sydney’s reluctance to give Ford a second chance, but I was hoping she would give in and try to forget past mistakes. I thought Ford was the perfect boyfriend. He is a thoughtful, caring, down to earth guy and he never gives up on Sydney.

Ford and Sydney are perfect for each other and I was rooting for them to work through all their issues, so they could finally be together. I found it hard to put this book down because I needed to know what would happen next. I highly recommend this tender, emotional story.

Once ‘a Pun’ a Time – a Guide to Reading and Telling Jokes for Kids by Wolf Cub Chlo


Once ‘a Pun’ a Time – a Guide to Reading and Telling Jokes for Kids by Wolf Cub Chlo
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

What do you get when you mix a 6 year old with a global crisis? If you twirl around, click your heels three times while chanting “there’s no place like home,” you get a jokes for kids book! Tired of reading the same boring books?

Want to read something funny and learn a secret at the same time? Then you’ve come to the right place! Read silly jokes for kids in part I and learn the secret joke formula in part II.

Funny joke books for kids help:
* increase reading comprehension
* decrease depression and anxiety
* spark creativity
* create endless hours of fun and so much more

“Once ‘a pun’ a Time – a guide to reading and telling jokes for kids:
contains colorful illustrations on every page
short read to keep the attention span of young and reluctant readers
introduces readers to homophones and common puns
teaches readers how to tell their own silly jokes also known as dad jokes
is small in size and can be carried in: backpacks, gift bags, totes perfect for subway rides, airplane travels, long road trips and bored days at home.

If you need something lighthearted and cheerful, look no further!

I couldn’t stop chuckling at the puns the author shared in the beginning of this book. She had a playful sense of humor that I think would appeal to adults who like dad jokes just as much as it does for the kids that it was originally written for. Honestly, who doesn’t enjoy some silly wordplay every now and again?

My favorite section was the one that showed kids how to come up with their own jokes. It clearly explained how homophones could be used to make people laugh. I also appreciated the pictures it shared and the space it gave the audience to make up their own jokes about what was happening in those scenes. Everything was presented so logically and simply that it could be understood by younger kids just as much as it could the older ones.

Occasionally, the author clarified what she meant in parentheses after finishing a sentence or section. I liked the fact that she put so much effort in making sure her audience understood what she was truly trying to say. While I did interpret nearly all of them in the way she was hoping I would, it’s definitely a good idea to clarify. That’s a sign of a good writer, and I look forward to seeing what else she writes in the future as she grows older.

Once ‘a Pun’ a Time – a Guide to Reading and Telling Jokes for Kids was a delightful read.

Class of ‘59 by John A. Heldt


Class of ‘59 by John A. Heldt
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

When Mary Beth McIntire settles into a vacation house on June 2, 2017, she anticipates a quiet morning with coffee. Then she hears a noise, peers out a window, and spots a man in 1950s attire standing in the backyard. She panics when the trespasser sees her and enters the house though a door to the basement. She questions her sanity when she cannot find him.

In the same house on March 21, 1959, Mark Ryan finds a letter. Written by the mansion’s original owner in 1900, the letter describes a basement chamber, mysterious crystals, and a formula for time travel. Driven by curiosity, Mark tests the formula twice. On his second trip to 2017, he encounters a beautiful stranger. He meets the woman in the window.

Within hours, Mary Beth and Mark share their secret with her sister and his brother and begin a journey that takes them from the present day to the age of sock hops, drive-ins, and jukeboxes. In CLASS OF ’59, the fourth book in the American Journey series, four young adults find love, danger, and adventure as they navigate the corridors of time and experience Southern California in its storied prime.

John A. Heldt has written many good time-travel romances, and Class of ’59 does not disappoint. Mary Beth and Piper are young adult sisters living in the year 2017. They stumble upon a pair of intriguing brothers from 1959 and follow them back into the past. They make a quick buck by gambling using their knowledge of the future. Unfortunately, they get the attention of some bad guys while doing this.

Mary Beth and Piper and the brothers, Mark and Ben, have a great time together in 1959. The young women really enjoy learning about the era as they immerse themselves in it. Readers are sure to enjoy all the ‘50s details. Piper even enrolls in school. The two sisters fall for the two brothers and they in turn with them, but they know it can’t last. Mary Beth and Piper will have to return to the future.

Meanwhile, gangsters are trying to find them, and they are getting closer. Though there are suspense and a sense of danger in this book, it is more about the setting and the adventure than that danger. It comes into play every so often, but the focus is more on the young ladies’ discovery and romance.

This is a charming time-travel book with a surprise ending. I would recommend it.

Side Effects by LJ Greene


Side Effects by LJ Greene
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

Who can you trust?

Ally Michels is fresh out of her MBA program at Cal and has landed her dream job at hot, up-and-coming video game developer, Jet Stream Studios, all thanks to her uncle, Jet’s largest venture capital investor. She’s feeling pretty good about her future until an inadvertent blurt in a company meeting brings down upon her the dangerous attention of Jet’s co-founder and chief developer, Marcus Abby.

Beautiful, brilliant, and vicious, Marcus is every bit the arrogant, deceitful founder her uncle warned her about. But in the power-fueled world of venture capital investing, things aren’t always what they seem. When Ally finds herself caught up in a play for corporate control, she must work with Marcus to save the company and an ideal she believes in, while navigating perilous family loyalties and fighting to hold onto her own integrity.

For Ally, there’s just one rule: never, ever trust Marcus Abby. Because the one man she needs to stop a high-stakes plot is the one man who has every reason to want her gone.

SIDE EFFECTS is an adult contemporary, twisty, underhanded, certainly unscrupulous . . . romance.

This book is part of a series, but it can definitely stand on its own. I’ve not read anything else by the author, but I had no trouble at all following this book.

The characters are strong and well-drawn. I have to admit, in the beginning of the book I really did not like Marcus at all. But, once I hit the chapters in his POV, my attitude really changed. There as a lot more to Marcus than meets the eye. And, while it is a romance, there is so much more to it. There is suspense. There is intrigue.

I really enjoyed the way the author put the story together and the way she clearly showed the characters’ emotion. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Ms. Greene.

With This Click, I Thee Wed by Bonnie R. Paulson


With This Click, I Thee Wed by Bonnie R. Paulson
ClickandWed.com Series
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

“Uh, oh, what did I do?”

Mail order bride with a contemporary twist!

A lonely divorcee and a rancher who can lose everything with one website that matches them for marriage…

They have to learn about the importance of decisions and family or lose their one shot at love.

Stuck in a town where everyone knows her and her ex-husband, Rachel is distinctly aware of who chose his side – everyone – and who chose her side – no one. Even her hairstylist won’t schedule her.

But when she finds herself alone with a bottle of chianti and the internet, Rachel stumbles upon Clickandwed.com. The survey is easy and clicking “I Do” seems to be the magic button she’s been searching for.

Before she can snap out of her decision, she finds herself packed and flying across the country to meet her new husband.

Would her new life be better or worse than the hell she left behind?

I have a new addiction. The ClickandWed.com series is unusual, quirky, entertaining and full of heart and emotion.

Bonnie R. Paulson is a new-to-me author and the first book I purchased was via BN a while ago, but I didn’t read it right away. I have to warn you that they now can only be found and read via a Kindle. This is the first time I’ve appreciated the fact that I bought a Kindle because this series is AMAZING! I really want other romance readers to be able to relish the simple joy of reading not only, With This Click, I Thee Wed, but all of them. I wanted to make sure you knew where to find them.

This first book is an awesome setup for the whole series. The author grabbed me by the heartstrings when I met Rachel. Do you remember that feeling of empathy you had for Cinderella because the stepmother doted on her own daughters and derided and denigrated Cinderella? Everything she did, even if it was right, even when she tried her hardest, would never, ever be correct or perfect in the eyes of her stepfamily? That is how I felt about Rachel. I hurt for her. She was a wonderful heroine who had a bad marriage with a real stinker of a fellow. Then there are her parents. The only thing I’m going to say about them is that they make the wicked stepmother in Cinderella look like she’s a cranky sourpuss. What they do and say and finally what is revealed about the depths and lengths of their unparent-like behavior truly astounded me. Ms. Paulson made me gape like a fish when Rachel discovered the facts. This is one of the most effective conflicts a story could have.

Now for the good stuff. The romance. Of course, it was rocky in the beginning. Again, I reference Cinderella. But, wait for it because Logan, though a bit scattered in the beginning, turns out to be a handsome prince of a guy. He has a dream, he has hopes and he’s lonely too. He loved his parents, and he misses them. They were taken away too soon but they left him a goal, a gorgeous ranch and a house full of stuff. He’s a hard worker, and he’s respectful and supportive of Rachel. The way the author describes their interactions, dialogue and how they look at each other was perfect for building their friendship, their relationship and what will lead to their falling in true love. What helps everything along is all the steps that they have to do through the ClickandWed app. It’s a serious business and it forces the two to work together to learn about each other as they grow as a couple. It’s really a clever plot technique and the author applied it effectively and successfully.

Oh, I forgot to mention that this story is told from Rachel’s point of view. The author handled it well and it never felt awkward nor were there any mistakes or info dumps. I enjoyed the whole tale. Well, except for the stress parts of emotional drama. Again, that refers to her snake of an ex and what new tricks he was trying to pull. It of course, caused some serious bumps in the fledgling relationship but I also appreciated the skill the author applied in making sure this story didn’t get tripped up with its drama. It propelled the relationship to grow, mature and tested their commitment to each other. I think that’s another reason why I liked this story so much. Any time I felt it was falling into a trope trap, the author surprised me with the perfect resolution and solution. I never felt anything was contrived. It felt natural and engaging.

I know I’m not doing this book justice. The book is sweet and heartfelt, it’s very character driven with a hero and heroine I really liked. I enjoyed watching Rachel find her wings and fly, and Logan was right there with her. And when I say Rachel comes into her own, I’m downplaying just how marvelously clever it all came about. I had so much fun reading about it!

The epilogue is a tiny story in itself, a perfect hook. Colin Davis is the creator of ClickandWed and she already has identified the next client who needs a happy ever after. Just the way it was written guaranteed that I would want it too, and that means I need to read the next book.

With This Click, I Thee Wed is simply wonderful. It gives a reader a well-rounded romance where the couple is the focus. There’s gentle humor, tender emotion and a boatload of reasons why this story gave me the ‘feels’ especially when Rachel and Logan get everything they thought they’d never have – love.

Nowhere To Run by Andrew Grey


Nowhere To Run by Andrew Grey
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Roy Unger is greenhorn running from his past. He’s gotten a ranch job and works hard to prove himself every day. Since leaving home in a hurry, he’s come to realize that this job is the only thing standing between him and starvation. He isn’t going to mess it up, no matter how much Brad might drive him to distraction.

Brad has been around the block more than once. He’s a cowboy through and through, complete with a failed rodeo career and a love life that could only be described as hopeless. He’s worked hard and kept his head down. Roy makes him want more, but Brad has come to realize that what he wants isn’t what he gets.

Brad knows what desperation feels like and how important it is to fit in. When he decides to help Roy get over his fear of horses, the two men spend more time together, leading Roy to share confidences about his troubled past. Listening builds trust, which shifts into so much more. But before they can have any sort of future, they need to deal with Roy’s past, which could ruin everything.

I found this to be a wonderful slow-paced cowboy romance. While the world and ranch have been set up in the two previous books in this series this actual story and the two heroes totally stand alone and so I strongly feel this story can be picked up and read by itself. I really enjoyed how both Brad and Roy’s characters were multi-faceted. This helped me feel like they were more realistic. I thought the author did an awesome job making both Brad and Roy feel fresh, relatable but also new to me and I loved this.

I’m not keen to delve too deeply into Roy’s past and his troubles, as I found they were different enough it was quite a pleasant surprise when I worked them out while reading the book and I’d hate to spoil that for other readers. Mostly I feel I want to commend the author for making what could have been very tried-and-true, almost trope-like problems turn very slightly and actually end up being something quite different and fresh. I also really appreciated the patience and understanding Brad had for these problems. Instead of just pushing Roy or guilting him into “fixing” everything, Brad slowly coaxed Roy into explaining everything in greater detail and then Brad supported Roy and helped him help himself. I found that really lovely and a good way for the men to become friends and slowly grow something deeper between them.

Readers looking for something intensely erotic or really fast-paced probably won’t find this romance suits their needs, but I personally felt the slower pace really matched both the character’s needs and the situation they were in. A hot and torrid affair wouldn’t have had either man end up happy and so I loved watching them really build something special between them. I’m also curious as to whether one of the other strong secondary characters (Jessup) might end up being the main character in one of the upcoming stories as he certainly seemed to be interesting and complicated enough that I feel perhaps the author was gently foreshadowing something with that brief snippet of storyline.

With a lovely pace, multi-layered and complicated characters and a lovely slow burn to the romance this was a great story and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m eagerly waiting in hope for future installments.

First Bloom by Sean Michael


First Bloom by Sean Michael
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Joey works as a janitor at Dick and Rock’s gym. He’s been there since his parents kicked him out for being gay. He’s happy at his job and loyal to the men who were there for him when he needed them most.

Erik is a master’s student and competitive swimmer who started going to the gym after a hand-gliding accident. He’s trying to recover and get his mojo back.

Joey’s been mooning over the handsome Erik for months now, but hasn’t had the guts to walk up to him. With Dick’s encouragement, he finally approaches his crush. When it turns out that Erik has been watching him too, Joey can hardly believe it.

Join Joey and Erik as they discover what they can be together.

Joey works hard at his job in the gym, grateful for the chance the owners have given him after he found himself on the street when his parents kicked him out. He’s had his eye on Erik – a handsome member clearly recovering from injury – but it’s not until Joey is urged by one of the owners to talk to Erik that he screws up the courage. The two men instantly connect and find they both dearly enjoy their first bloom of romance together.

I really enjoyed this fun and sweet romance story. While there’s plenty of steamy sex in it, there is also that sweetness of a first serious romance, the innocence and fun and happiness that is just a joy to experience and read about. I really enjoyed that both Erik and Joey were both on the same page together and they clearly grew deeply attached and in love with each other at a similar pace and with equal depth. It was joyous to my mind to read and so sweet and happy I feel you can’t help but enjoy each moment.

With some lovely secondary characters in both Erik’s adopted family and Joey’s family-of-choice (who also happen to be old friends for many long-term readers) this quick read was a delight and I strongly believe should appeal to a wide range of people who just want a happy and lovely story to help lift their spirits. I really enjoyed this story.

Old Wounds: A Nick Shelby Case and Other Crime Stories by Tom Batt


Old Wounds: A Nick Shelby Case and Other Crime Stories by Tom Batt
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, LGBTQ, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Old Wounds: A Nick Shelby Case and Other Crime Stories is a collection of 15 short crime stories from dark detective noir to domestic murder, crossing time periods as far back as the Victorian era and into the near future. Some with a twist of horror, science fiction or the supernatural. Each story revolves around intriguing characters with twists and turns and on occasion a sting in the tail.

Private investigator Nick Shelby is struggling to move on from the abrupt and unexplained departure of Louise, the woman he loved. When she turns up dead in Mexico, he sets off to investigate her death and, in the process, unravels a web of lies and betrayal woven together by a roster of shady characters in 1940s Los Angeles. A mysterious man thought to be dead, a deceiving doctor and a notorious gangster are all connected, but the big question is who killed Louise and why?

Plus, three small town sheriff’s deputies are made a tempting offer by a sinister stranger they’ve arrested; a young prostitute tracks down the man who murdered her friend and exacts brutal revenge; in the near future where reproduction is regulated a desperate mother will risk everything to have a child of her own and in Victorian London a married couple encounter one of the city’s most infamous criminals and find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Sometimes the fringes of society are the most interesting places to be.

After going broke and nearly losing their home, George’s wife decided to work as a prostitute to keep her family housed and fed in “An Unexpected Encounter in Spitalfields.” His angry response to the way their community treated them once word of her new occupation got out piqued my interest. I had a lot of compassion for this couple and was curious to see how they’d manage their financial woes as well as the stigma they faced. There were some wonderful twists in this tale that kept me guessing, and the final surprise was the best one of them all.

“A Deadly Suspicion” began with Cooper and Gabe making small talk as they got rid of a body. I was intrigued by how casually these characters cleaned up the scene of the death and how much more attention they paid to other concerns in their lives like making sure their hair looked good. That wasn’t how I’d expect anyone to behave in that situation at all, so I couldn’t imagine what their reasoning was for it. As intrigued as I was by their unusual behavior, I did find myself wishing that they’d gone into more detail about why they were so used to handling dead bodies and how they were planning to get away with their crimes. This was a pattern I noticed in a few other stories here as well. I would have gone with a higher rating if the author had been a little more methodical about explaining what was going on in them.

Russell was dismayed to learn that his mistress was pregnant in “Fatal Infidelity.” After his mistress died in a car accident a short time later, he had to figure out how to cover up the evidence of their affair and her death. I thought I knew where everything was going based on the beginning and middle of it, so it was a pleasant surprise to see how many tricks the author still had up his sleeve as the characters moved closer to the climax. This was quite creative and was one of my favorite tales of them all.

Old Wounds: A Nick Shelby Case and Other Crime Stories was a well-rounded collection that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys all sorts of different types of mysteries.

Small Feet by Aelth Faye


Small Feet by Aelth Faye
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Romance, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

What if Cinderella’s slipper fit someone else? Jade’s life is boring, but certainly not as bad as Ella’s. Ella has an evil, abusive step-family, while Jade’s family is only determined to marry their daughters well. But when a ball is announced, who should Jade see there but poor Ella in a stunning ball-gown? And what will happen when Jade is mistaken for Ella, and is faced with the decision of a lifetime? Don’t miss the chance to check out the first book of this unique series of fairytale novellas!

Set in the regency era, the shy, bookish Jade is the youngest of four sisters and has no prospects in life except marriage to whoever will make her an offer. But her daydreams of someday being the heroine of her own story are at odds with her boring life. When the prince asks her to marry him, Jade is faced with the realization that she could do some real good as queen, but the cost to Ella might outweigh any good Jade could do.

Marrying well is required for any girl who wishes to properly secure her future in the 1800s.

Jade’s character development was excellent. Her personality was three dimensional and realistic. Honestly, I could spend this entire review simply discussing her intelligence, her sometimes slightly snobby reaction to people who didn’t share her love of reading, and her sensitivity to the suffering of others. I also appreciated the fact that some of her biggest flaws were things that had a direct effect on how the plot unfolded very soon after the audience first met her. This raised the stakes dramatically and made it impossible for me to stop reading.

I would have liked to see more time exploring the repercussions of a lie Jade told in this tale. While the truth was eventually revealed, her mistake was such a serious one that I was surprised by how quickly it was resolved. It certainly seemed like something that should have taken up much more of the storyline than it was given, especially since her position in polite society was already on shaky ground for other reasons.

This was the first Cinderella retelling I’ve ever read that didn’t include any magical or fantasy elements at all. Everything in it could have really happened in the Regency-like era she lived in, including portions of the storyline that were pretty fanciful in the original. It was fascinating for me as a reader to see how the author came up with logical explanations for everything. What a creative approach to this classic!

Small Feet was a promising introduction to the brand new Fairytale Hour series.

Brilliant White Peaks by Teng Rong


Brilliant White Peaks by Teng Rong
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A beautiful story of life, love, and loss in the animal kingdom.

Brilliant White Peaks follows a young wolf and his companions as they battle harsh weather conditions, scarcity of food, and other predators to survive in the wild.

Raised by a loving Ma and Pa, a wolf pup grows up with his shy sister White-Ears to be a ferocious hunter. However, while foraging for food in the winter, the family is attacked by a pack of hostile wolves, leading the young wolf and his sister astray from their parents.

Desperate to find his parents again, the young wolf slowly nurses White-Ears through her injuries and sets off for the ocean, where Ma and Pa promised they would be waiting.

Surviving in the wild is difficult even for predators!

The character development was well done, especially when it came to the protagonist. He was such a persistent and courageous wolf who often put himself into danger to save the ones he loved. I was also fascinated by his canine conceptions of what might happen to an animal after death. That was not a topic I’d ever expected him to think about, so reading his thoughts on it later on in the plot was a real treat.

My sole criticism of this book involves the ending. The main character spent almost the entire storyline searching for his missing parents. It was such a powerful source of motivation for him that I was a little disappointed to see how this conflict was resolved even though the author’s reasons for writing it that way did make sense to me. I’d love to see a sequel that addressed this topic in greater detail and explained it fully for the reader as I would have otherwise given this a full five-star rating.

I was impressed by the numerous plot twists. Like all wild animals, the main character was surrounded by danger every moment of his life. Food could be difficult to find, and even the simplest hunt or chance meeting with another predator could go wrong in an instant. There was no telling what might happen to him or his family next, and I was surprised more than once by how things turned out for them.

Brilliant White Peaks was an exciting adventure that I’d recommend to adults and young adults alike.